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Plain textAl Shabaab’s 3 Strategic Towns Fall To AMISOM
Somali government forces with the support of AMISOM troops have captured the strategic town of Bibi in southern Somalia from Al Shabaab, bringing the number of fallen settlements to three in less than a month.
During the 12:30pm Friday operation, the forces faced little resistance from the Al‐Qaeda-affiliated terror group, Al‐Shabaab.
An assortment of weapons and ammunition was also recovered from the fleeing militants.
Somali National Army during a recent training exercise
Three Somali soldiers sustained minor injuries during the engagement and have been accorded the necessary medical attention while AMISOM forces did not suffer any casualties, according to a press statement released by AMISOM.
Bibi is an important town situated at a road junction linking it to Beles Quoqaani and Afmadow.
AMISOM Force Commander, Lieutenant General Andrew Gutti, said the capture of the town would help enhance security for the population in the area.
Ugandan soldiers serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) fire a mortar near the outskirts of the town of Afgoye
“AMISOM is committed to supporting the people of Somalia as they endeavor to rebuild their country” He said.
On Tuesday, Uganda-led troops captured Harbole, which is 6km from Miido, another strategic township which had earlier fallen to AMISOM troops.
Lieutenant General Gutti commended AMISOM soldiers, saying, the latest success had come at a critical time in Somalia’s history.
Soldiers of the Somali National Army (SNA) rest in the shade of a tree near the outskirts of the town of Afgoye, located to the west of the country's capital Mogadishu on 24 May 2012.
“This operation demonstrates AMISOM’s continuing determination to support the people of Somalia as they embark on a new path of renewal and reconstruction,” said Gutti.
“Securing Harbole will allow the local community to be part of the continuing process of national reconciliation.”
Recently trained members of the Somali National Army (SNA) demonstration self-defence techniques during a passing-out parade
The operations follow Somalia’s historic presidential election which marked the end of the transition to a more representative system of government.
The Uganda army leadership expects to completely liberate Somalia from AL Shabaab terrorists before the close of 2012.
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Updated on 2013-05-09 09:25 |
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