Somalia: 200 Former Al Shabaab Agents Surrender to Allied Forces

Mogadishu, Somalia — 200 hundred Al Shabaab agents surrendered to African Union and Somali government forces on Sunday amid a chain of bombings and assassinations in Mogadishu, Garowe Online reports.

Spokesman for the African Union forces deployed in Somalia, Col. Ali Adan Hamud, said that the agents who surrendered were equipped with their weapons had decided to give up fighting for Al Shabaab and join government forces.

"These Al Shabaab agents renounced their allegiance with the terrorist group and decided to join the government forces.

"We are welcoming this decision by the militants and we are providing their security," continued Col. Hamud.

a video report from ALJAZEERA:

The spokesman also stated that reports that said the agents were actually civilians who were looking to join the battle in the Middle Shabelle region by surrendering to the allied forces were false.

"The 200 agents who surrendered included two Al Shabaab officials, we welcome anyone separating from Al Shabaab and we will protect them," said Col. Hamud.

Al Shabaab did not comment on the agents who split from the organization on Sunday.

The split by the 200 Al Shabaab agents follows a string of attacks by Al Shabaab in Mogadishu as a new Somali President was elected earlier this month.

Last Thursday Al Shabaab agents strapped with explosives attacked a restaurant in a Mogadishu killing14 people and shelled a residential neighborhood the night before.

On Saturday a member of the new federal parliament Mustafa Haji was gunned down after evening prayers near his home in Mogadishu.

Security analysts say that the recent insecurity in Mogadishu is due serious infiltration by Al Shabaab in Mogadishu even stemming all way to top security and military officials.

from allAfrica/Garowe Online
23 September 2012
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photos:

 

Defected members of Islamist militant group al Shabaab stand after giving themselves up to the African Union AMISOM forces in Garsale, approximately 10km from the town of Jowhar, 80km north of Mogadishu, in this September 22, 2012 handout picture made available by the African Union-United Nations Information Support Team on September 23, 2012. Islamist rebels said they shot dead a Somali lawmaker in Mogadishu on Saturday and threatened to kill every legislator in the country. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) force said, however, there were signs of deepening internal rifts within al Shabaab. More than 200 rebels defected near the town of Jowhar on Saturday, AMISOM said. *******/AU-UN IST/Abukar Albadri/Handout 

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 Defected members of Islamist militant group al Shabaab stand after turning themselves in to the African Union AMISOM forces in Garsale, approximately 10km from the town of Jowhar, 80km north of Mogadishu, in this September 22, 2012 handout picture made available by the African Union-United Nations Information Support Team on September 23, 2012. Islamist rebels said they shot dead a Somali lawmaker in Mogadishu on Saturday and threatened to kill every legislator in the country. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) force said, however, there were signs of deepening internal rifts within al Shabaab. More than 200 rebels defected near the town of Jowhar on Saturday, AMISOM said. *******/AU-UN IST/Abukar Albadri/Handout

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 A senior commanding officer (front L) of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) shakes hands with a defected commander (front R) of Islamist militant group al Shabaab after members gave themselves up to AMISOM forces in Garsale, approximately 10km from the town of Jowhar, 80km north of Mogadishu, in this September 22, 2012 handout picture made available by the African Union-United Nations Information Support Team on September 23, 2012. Islamist rebels said they shot dead a Somali lawmaker in Mogadishu on Saturday and threatened to kill every legislator in the country. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) force said, however, there were signs of deepening internal rifts within al Shabaab. More than 200 rebels defected near the town of Jowhar on Saturday, AMISOM said. *******/AU-UN IST/Abukar Albadri/Handout

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AMISOM forces kill 36 Al-Shabaab fighters in Somalia

NAIROBI, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) killed at least 36 Al-Shabaab militia late Friday as the troops took over Miido town in a fierce exchange of fire that last several hours in southern Somalia.

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir said on Saturday that five KDF soldiers are missing in action while three sustained injuries and have been flown to Dhobley to receive treatment.

"AMISOM forces together with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia soldiers in Sector 2 captured Miido town and neutralized at least 36 Al-Shabaab militants," Chirchir said in his official Twitter account.

Chirchir said that during the battle with the insurgents, AMISOM forces comprising of Kenyan and Somali soldiers also managed to destroy seven Al-Shabaab technical vehicles and logistic supplies while other assorted weapons and ammunitions were recovered.

The development came as the military has stepped up security along Kenya's common border with Somalia following an outbreak of fighting between AMISOM forces and the Al-Shabaab militia.

The Kenyan forces currently under the command of AMISOM are dealing with specific targets against the Al-Shabaab, but security had been reinforced on the Kenyan side of the border.

Sources said that during the battle, the Kenyan fighter jets and helicopter gunships fired bombs at the militants inflicting heavy injuries on the militants.

The sources said hundreds of the insurgents blamed for bomb and grenade attacks on the Kenyan soil including abduction of foreigners had left the strategic port city of Kismayo to prevent Kenyan and Somalia forces from deriving them from their last stronghold.

The AMISOM forces have been very active this week after killing more than 40 militants earlier in the week as they stepped up their onslaught to rid off the Horn of Africa from Al-Shabaab.

Al-Shabaab has vowed reprisal attacks in Kenya, mainly targeting security forces in border towns of northern Kenya where dozens of people have been killed in landmine and grenade attacks blamed on the militant group.

Al-Shabaab has said it views the presence of Kenyan troops in southern Somalia as an act of war.

The group which has teamed up with global terror network al Qaida is now vowing an all-out war in Kenya, in protest against the military incursion "against our brothers in Somalia."

Kenya has seen several hit-and-run grenade attacks in recent months in the capital, Nairobi, and in northern Kenya and in the port city of Mombasa. The Kenyan authorities often blame such attacks on al Qaida-affiliated Al-Shabaab rebels from neighboring Somalia.

The east African nation launched cross-border incursion into Somalia last October in pursuit of the militants blamed for a series of grenade and landmine attacks in Nairobi, Mombasa and northern region.

The authorities have called on Kenyans to be vigilant over terror attacks because of higher numbers of foreign fighters who sneaked into the country.

from XINHUA
2012-09-01 23:25:2

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Bomb kills 8 Somali soldiers in Mogadishu: officials

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - At least eight Somali government troops were killed when a remote-controlled bomb hit their vehicle in Mogadishu, officials said on Thursday, highlighting lingering security risks less than two weeks before the U.N.-backed government's mandate ends.

Somalia's Islamist al Shabaab group claimed responsibility for the attack on Wednesday evening.

Government troops and African Union peacekeepers say they have tightened security before a presidential election on August 20 when the transitional government will be dissolved.

A combined force including Kenyan, Burundian, Ethiopian and Djiboutian troops is planning an offensive on Kismayu, Somalia's second biggest city and a hub for al Shabaab, before then.

Residents said the military vehicle had been destroyed by a roadside bomb in the Huriwaa district of northern Mogadishu.

"A bomb killed eight soldiers and completely destroyed their pickup. Only two, including the driver, survived with injuries," Mohamed Abdikadir, a senior police officer, told Reuters.

Although Somali troops and peacekeepers of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) drove al Shabaab fighters from most of Mogadishu in August 2011, the latest bombing shows the militants can still stage deadly attacks in the capital.

Al Shabaab has threatened more attacks as Somalia's three top government officials and a dozen other politicians campaign for the presidency. Last week the government foiled two would-be suicide bombers who targeted a conference hall where delegates approved a draft constitution.

"We destroyed the government pickup yesterday," Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, military spokesman for al Shabaab, told Reuters. "AMISOM and government forces will never sleep or relax. More explosions await them."

On Tuesday, Uganda's military, which provides the bulk of peacekeeping force, said it had deployed an air force contingent to reinforce the troops in their fight against al Shabaab.

from REUTERS
By Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar
Thu Aug 9, 2012 10:10am GMT

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Somalia: 4 Dead After Al Shabaab Battle With Ahlu Sunnah Forces

Eilbur, Somalia — At least four people have died after Al Shabaab insurgents launched an offensive against Ahlu Sunnah and Ethiopian forces stationed in Eilbur, Radio Garowe reports.

The town of Eilbur is located in the region of Galgudud which most parts are governed by Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama. Ethiopian and Ahlu Sunna forces recently captured the town from Al Shabaab agents. The attack by the insurgent group sparked a four hour battle between Al Shabaab and Ahlu Sunnah troops backed by Ethiopian forces.

The sound of heavy artillery could be heard throughout the town and neighboring districts, local sources on the ground say four people were killed in the battle.

Ahlu Sunnah authorities said that they had killed 2 Al Shabaab agents in the battle but did not comment on their casualties.

Further south in Somalia residents of Elesha Biyaha located about 13 kms west of Mogadishu have started to flee their homes in fear of clashes between AMISOM alongside TFG forces and Al Shabaab who have lost much ground in southern Somalia in recent weeks.

AMISOM and TFG forces captured the Daynile district in southeastern Mogadishu was a stronghold for Al Shabaab insurgents in Mogadishu.

from allAfrica

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