Amisom tank
The African Union Force (AMISOM) in Mogadishu expanded its territory on Tuesday morning by taking control of two strategic sites between Mogadishu and the rebel held Elasha-Biyaha area on the outskirt of Mogadishu.
“AMISOM executed a successful operation against al-Shabaab militants on the outskirts of Mogadishu, capturing two sites of tactical importance,” said their spokesman Mr. Paddy Ankunda.
Ankunda said AMISOM took over the sites without facing any resistance from the militants.
In an advance that begun at approximately 5.00AM local time (02.00 GMT), AMISOM’s Burundian contingent took Al-Janal hill, which oversees the southern approaches to the Mogadishu International Airport as well as Maslah building which sits on the road to Afgoye, an al-Shabaab stronghold.
Acting Force Commander, Brigadier General Audace Nduwumunsi, said the move was part of AMISOM’s efforts to secure the Somali capital and degrade the militants’ ability to infiltrate it and mount attacks on the populace.
“AMISOM is not resting on the laurels of its recent successes. Operations are ongoing to expand the zone of security in Mogadishu,” he said.
Reports say transport between Mogadishu and Afgoye via Maslah building remained paralyzed for the better part of the day following the seizure of Maslah.
This is the first assault of its kind carried out by the AMISOM forces that expelled al-Shabaab from the better part of the city. Rising tension is also being reported in the Elasha Biyaha.
