Somalia Rebels Capture Southern Border Town

Somalia’s rebel Al-Shabaab group has captured Dobley, a southern border town located between Somalia and Kenya border.

The insurgent onalaught has caused many people to flee and seek refuge in neighboring Kenya.

According to witnesses the insurgents took Dobley without any resistance from the rival Hizbul Islam militia.

The two groups were once allies in a fight against the UN-backed interim Somali government. They however became rivals in a fight for control over parts of the lower Jubba district, a key source of revenue.

In the past few days, clashes between the two groups have claimed more than 15 lives and wounded at least 25.It has also been reported that several Hizbul Islam officials are fleeing into Kenya.

The Al-Shabaab recently threatened to execute attacks in Kenya, accusing the East African nation of training Somali youths to fight for the interim government
Kenyan Defense minister Mohamed Yusuf Haji declared that Kenya was ready to deal with any Al-Shabaab offensives along the border.

Somali has experienced intense violence between government forces and Islamist insurgents bent on overthrowing the current UN-backed transitional administration. [CK]