By Mudangha Kolyangha & Agencies (email the author)
Posted Sunday, May 15 2011 at 00:00
Posted Sunday, May 15 2011 at 00:00
Two UPDF officers were yesterday killed and three others sustained injuries in a fierce gun battle with the al-Shabaab Islamists in Somalia. A statement from the Amison commander, Maj .Gen Nathan Mugisha, said the Transitional Federal Government [TFG] backed by the African Union troops (AMISOM) exchanged heavy gun fire at Bakara market.
“The operation resulted into the death of Ali Burhan “Ayatuulah,” who was the extremists’ overall commander in Hawlwadag region. Several extremist fighters have also been killed,” the statement reads in part.
AMISOM troops yesterday launched an operation in support of the TFG forces with the objective of further expanding the area of responsibility and denying the extremist insurgents the ability to threaten the population in Hodan and Hawlwadag districts.
It will also give the government more room to provide public services to the region. “On our part we lost two soldiers and three others sustained injuries. I commend the brave officers and men, both in the Somali National Army and in AMISOM, who are right now risking their lives to secure the people of Mogadishu,” Gen. Mugisha said.
He added: “I appeal to the public for their understanding and urge them to minimise unnecessary movements within the Bakara market area to avoid being caught up in crossfire. I also request them to pass on any relevant information of a security nature they may have to the nearest security personnel.”
The new AMISOM spokesperson, Maj. Paddy Ankunda, who replaced Maj. Ba-Hoku Barigye, who has served in the portfolio for more than three years, could not be reached for a comment as the phone could not go through.
Gaining ground
The 9,000-strong force of Ugandan and Burundian troops deployed to protect the ailing Somali government has in the last five months regained significant ground in central Mogadishu.
The 9,000-strong force of Ugandan and Burundian troops deployed to protect the ailing Somali government has in the last five months regained significant ground in central Mogadishu.
The TFG and AMISOM had long been confined to a few blocks, unable to take the battle to the al Shabaab, an Islamist insurgent movement that has controlled most of the Horn of Africa country for two years.
AMISOM now controls half of Mogadishu and is gradually tightening its grip around Bakara market, the heart of the capital’s economic activity. Gen. Mugisha earlier this month said this was a turning point in the conflict.
The al-Shabaab controls the northern Mogadishu districts of Huruwai, Karan and Yaqshid. The districts of Abdul Aziz, Scibis, Bondere, Hawlwaderg and Hodan are under intense fighting between the AU forces and the al-Shabaab.
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