AMISOM takes more towns in Somalia

Tuesday, 17th May, 2011	E-mail article   Print article
By Taddeo Bwambale and agencies THE African Union forces in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Transitional Federal Government have gained control over new areas in Mogadishu, AMISOM spokesperson Maj. Gen. Nathan Mugisha said in a statement. In another interview, Paddy Ankunda, the force’s spokesman, said the troops had seized a building, a former army base and a street from the al-Shabaab since fresh fighting began on May 12. “The objective was to take the fight to the enemy. So far, we have succeeded,” said Ankunda. He added that they were now controlling 60% of Mogadishu. This follows heavy gunfire last week in which the combined forces killed dozens of al-Shabaab fighters in Hodan district. The forces also killed Ali Burhan, a top commander in Hawlwadag region, along with several other fighters. The troops are tasked with protecting Somalia’s weak transitional government, which the al-Shabaab insurgents have been fighting to topple over the past four years. Ugandan troops form the backbone of African Union’s (AU) deployment in Somalia. On Saturday, two UPDF officers were killed and three others injured, following a fierce gun battle with the al-Shabaab extremists at Bakara market.