​Somalia: AMISOM shells militant in southern Somalia, Al Shabaab vows to fight new administration

QORYOLEY, Somalia- African Union forces in Somalia were reported to have carried out a mortar shelling in a town near Qoryoley district, 120 kilometers south-west of the capital Mogadishu, Garowe Online reports.

The mortar attack took place at Al Shabaab-held area in Farhane settlement, which is located around 8 km of Qoryoley town on Sunday morning, however, no casualties were reported from the offensive, sources said. 

AMISOM is yet to release a statement concerning the offensive, which is part of AU strategy to back the Somali national army to flush out the militants from large areas in central and southern regions.

- Al Shabaab vows to fight new administration'

On the other hand, Al Shabaab has declared it will continue its campaign of terror and violence against the new administration led by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and allied AU forces in Somalia.

Sheikh Hassan Yaqub, a top Al Shabaab leader has announced the group opposed the recent ballot, which saw the election of Farmajo as President of the East African country, the group vowed to topple the government.

He said Al Shabaab decided to denounced the President for backing the African Union troops currently in the country on a mission to eradicate the Islamist fighters.

The commander of Al Shabaab declared “fresh new attacks” against Somali national army (SNA) and AMISOM bases and convoys on the horizon. "Somali and AMISOM forces should prepare for new bloodshed," he said.

The Al Qaida-affiliated Al Shabaab group has also described President Farmajo's efforts to rebuild the national army as an “endless project” aimed to generate financial interests from thewest.

This comes after days of electing the new president as the militant group in Jilib held an impromptu parade for over 800 of its newly trained fighters and renewed its commitment to fight AMISOM and the Somali government.

GAROWEONLINE