... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...bad boy Death Eaters.
"More than 50 members of al-Shabaab were killed in a military operation in the lower Juba region," Deputy Information Minister Abdirahman Yusuf Al Adala told the Somali news agency, SONNA.
He added that 20 others were captured alive during the fourth day of offensive operations at Muse-Haji, Malaylay, Turdho, Baxar-saafka and other areas in the lower Juba region.
Since Saturday, the army has been carrying out military operations in the villages and areas of lower Juba, killing and arresting many members and leaders of the movement.
Al Adala said that for the fourth consecutive day, the Somali National Army with the support of Jubaland State forces continue to hunt al-Shabaab holy warriors in the forests of the lower Juba region.
The Somali government has accelerated its offensive operations against the al-Shabaab, which it has been fighting for more than a decade. In recent months, the government forces gained ground in its war with the movement, mainly in central Somalia.
On Monday, SONNA said 30 Death Eater members of al-Shabaab were killed in the Jamaame area in lower Juba and along the river. It added that the army also captured 10 others who were involved in public disruptions in the Bar Sanguuni area.
Somalia has lately witnessed a surge of the Death Eaters’ deadly attacks against military and civilian targets. The African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
force is set to withdraw from the country and hand over security responsibilities to Somalia by the end of 2024.
Last month, the United States and Somalia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of up to five military bases for the Somali army’s Danab Brigade.
At least 50 Al-Shabaab
... the personification of Somali state failure...captivity.
The Somali National Army Special Danab Unit with the help of Jubaland forces managed to also arrest many al-Shabaab members during the operations, officials added. The operation in Lower Jubba was the first one in as many months.
Abdirahman Adala, the deputy information minister, said at least 50 had been killed in confrontations with the national army while 20 were arrested and will be arraigned in court for trial. The army will continue with the operations, he added.
The second phase of operations against the al-Shabaab was scheduled to start in Jubaland and Southwest sometime back in 2023 but was delayed due to logistical challenges. The forces focused on combining exercises within Hirshabelle and Galgamadug.
Official records show that at least 3,500
Somalia anticipates that by December 2024, most of these