Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and African Union peacekeeping forces, also known as AMISOM, have today extended their bases in Mogadishu after reaching new districts in the northern end of the city, which al-Shabaab insurgents vacated on Saturday.
Around 10:00am local time AMISOM seized Karan, Abdiaziz and Shibis districts with ease, according to witnesses who spoke to Somalia Report, but the calm didn’t last long. By 8:00pm local time the militants were quick to fulfill their promise to conduct hit and run attacks by attacking Karan and Abdiaziz.
“More troops from AMISOM and TFG arrived in Karan police station, marina buildings and Shibis,” a resident in Karan told Somalia Report, “Over the last three days a few al-Shabaab fighters were in those bases but they ran away last night.”
AMISOM troops started searching for hidden bombs in that area, while they filled defensive holes dug by al-Shabaab. AMISOM did not meet any resistance initially.
Later that evening at least three civilians were killed and five others were injured after al-Shabaab fighters launched hit and run attacks on the bases which AMISOM seized earlier in the day, residents said.
“After we opened our fasting in the evening, al-Shabaab fighters attacked AMISOM and TFG bases in Karan and Abdiaziz districts,” resident Abdulahi Gaab, told Somalia Report. “The fighting was very heavy and it was going on for two hours as both sides used machine guns and artillery. Three civilians died after a mortar from an unknown direction hit them in Abdiaziz district, and five other were injured and rushed to Keysaney hospital,” he added.
As of Tuesday evening, AMISOM remains in control of the three newly seized districts.
After the withdrawal of al-Shabaab from the city, the militias vowed that they would conduct hit and run attacks in the capital until the African Union troops and TFG forces run away from Somalia. They have also reportedly hidden fighters throughout the city.
