Somalia: AMISOM Forces Capture Maslah, Extend Mogadishu Defences
By NewsfromAfrica
MOGADISHU--The Somali National Forces with the support of AMISOM troops Friday morning pushed Al-Qaeda-backed al Shabaab terrorists out of a neighbourhood on the northern outskirts of the Somali capital, Mogadishu. The AMISOM Force Spokesman, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda confirmed the new development.
In a swift move that started Friday morning, the Uganda Contingent helped capture Maslah which the extremists have been using as a base to launch attacks on the city. The move comes barely two weeks after a similar push to the south saw the security cordon around the city expanded further outwards.
“Today’s operation has successfully extended the city’s defences and will deny the terrorists important ground from which they have been attacking the population,” said AMISOM Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Fred Mugisha. Maslah has also been a ground from which the extremists were conducting firing squads. A lot of innocent civilians are said to have been executed from there since 2008.
Two of our soldiers were injured during this operation. We are committed to continue working with Transitional Federal Authorities to eliminate threats to the Somali peace process and to create an enabling environment for reconciliation.
“AMISOM forces, both in Mogadishu and in the south of the country, will continue to support the people of Somalia as they strive to rebuild their country,” he said.
Since August last year, when AMISOM helped clear the al shabab from their bases within the capital, Somali leaders have taken advantage of the improved security to reach agreement on the peace process and the reconstitution of the Somali state.
In September 2011 they adopted a Roadmap to ending the transition. Earlier this year and in two conferences in the Puntland capital, Garowe, the leaders established a framework for the adoption of a provisional constitution as well as for the creation of federal units in liberated areas.
Last week, the UN Security Council passed a resolution raising the AMISOM troop ceiling to 17,731 and allowing for the integration of Kenyan forces.