African Union, Somali troops capture second southern town from al Shabaab

Somali troops are supported in the fight against Al-Shabaab by African Union (AU) forces, which include personnel from Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Burundi and Djibouti.

The A Qaida affiliated militants has been losing last major strongholds to Somalia government forces in the recent months, but the group still managed to carry deadly attacks in Somalia and neighboring countries.

“With the help of AMISOM, we have captured Dinsoor district today without resistance from al Shabaab. They have deserted it”, Major Aliyow Ibrahim, a Somali officer, told Reuters.

In an official statement from office of the President, the president said his government is ready to welcome any Al Shabaab fighter who is willing to ´´ renouce from violence´´. “The district is now in AMISOM hands”, sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab’s military operation spokesman, told Reuters.

“This is not a victory for AMISOM”.

The allied forces took control of Dinsoor town in the South-western Bay region, which is more than 240KM from Mogadishu.

Last week, the AU and Somali forces launched “Operation Jubba Corridor”, an offensive aimed at flushing the al-Qaeda-linked group out of the largely rural areas of southern Somalia it controls.

“Most of the residents fled so it looks like a ghost town”, said resident Mohamed Added, adding that the government troops were in control.

“We offer amnesty provided the individual meets four simple conditions: reject al-Shabaab; renounce violence; commit to participation in the peace process and the reconstruction of the country; and be an ambassador to others still trapped within al-Shabaab”, he said.