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African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) officials claimed to have killed 27 al-Shabaab militant in ‘days of bloody clashes’ in Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu after the Somali government forces and AMISOM peacekeepers established new bases.
The bloodshed that has left over 55 people dead comes amid growing concern over the insurgency’s ability to mount attacks on the pro-government bases.
In a statement released on Saturday, AMISOM said that in the last three days several al-Shabaab fighters had been killed and dozens more wounded in the cross-fire between government troops and the militants fighting in Hodan.
“Abdufita Mohamed, the overall extremist commander in Mogadishu's Bakara Market sector, was killed yesterday, 13 May, together with several of his fighters and Abdiwahab Sheik Dole, his intelligence officer,” said AMISOM Force Spokesman Major Paddy Ankunda.
“Also two Pakistani foreign fighters, Hussein Abassi and Abdullahi Yalb, were rushed to Daynille Hospital with severe injuries but later died and were buried nearby,” he said.
The clashes comes on a day when 14 people were killed included two AMISOM soldiers and al-Shabaab commander, Burhan Ali ‘Ayatuallah’, in heavy shelling that occurred in north district of Hodan.
AMISOM Gaining Ground
AMISOM officially declared that they continue to gain ground and now hold more than half of the capital.
“AMISOM launched this operation in support of the TFG forces on 12 May to further expand its control within the city. 60% of Mogadishu is now under the control of government forces. Seven out of Mogadishu’s 16 districts are under AMISOM, while six are contested and three are under al-Shabaab,” Maj. Ankunda said.
“Immediately to the west of Bakara Market in Hodan District, AMISOM's Burundian peacekeepers removed extremists from another key position, the Russian building, and moved to within a few meters of the notorious African Village. Three peacekeepers were injured during this fighting,” he added.
The violence has forced many residents to flee the capital as government and AMISOM forces retaliated for al-Shabaab killing their soldiers. AMISOM attacked the militants with barrage of artillery shelling mainly targeted on rebel strong holds, including the famous Bakara Market.