AU troops kill terrorists, seizes weapons during Somalia operation

Ugandan troops make up part of the African Union force in Somalia [File Photo]

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] has killed two Al-Shabaab militants in an ambush in southern Somalia, recovering several sophisticated weapons in the process, as the country fights to liberate several areas from the group.

The two militants, officials said, were killed in Beled Amin, in an attempted ambush, which would have been rather devastating. Several weapons were recovered in the process, in what the AU forces termed a "successful response" against the militants.

According to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, the forces managed to recover two sub-machine guns, six magazines, and 130 rounds of ammunition. According to locals, the militants have been extorting money from them illegally.

For the last seven months, the Somali National Army [SNA], ATMIS, and the US Africa Command have been waging attacks against the militants, killing over 3,000 in the first phase. The first phase targeted Galmadug and HirShabelle states, with several defections also achieved.

According to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the second phase of operations against Al-Shabaab will be focusing on Jubaland and Southwest states, where Kenya Defence Forces [KDF] and Ethiopian National Defense Forces [ENDF] taking part in the crackdown.

A few months ago, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud invited forces from Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Kenya who are not serving in ATMIS. While the three countries have not revealed the number of troops who will be dispatched, they are, however, expected to serve in the country for three months.

Somalia has been tackling violent extremism for the last three 16 years and the militants are fighting hard to capture several parts of the country. However, the combined efforts by security forces have managed to liberate the country from the militants.

GAROWE ONLINE