Al Shabaab discusses a host of issues in Baidoa meeting; Kenyan troops join AU Mission in Somalia; Heavy fighting broke out in Mogadishu; Sixty Al-shabab militants killed in fighter jet bombing in the Gedo region
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    • SOMALIA

    According to reports, Al Shabaab members meeting was held in Baidoa city of southern Somalia where many prominent members of the outfit including Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys met with other members to discuss changing the group's name. They also discussed the banning of alcohol, cigarettes and drugs in the provinces controlled by Al Shabaab. Members also discussed increasing the fight against Transitional Federal Government (TFG) troops, AMISOM peacekeepers, Kenyan troops, and even forces of Puntland State of Somalia. 1

    In another development, reports noted that following the unanimous vote in Parliament authorising the Kenya Defence Forces currently fighting Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia to serve under the African Union Mission in Somalia, Kenyan soldiers have become part of the United Nations-sponsored African Mission in Somalia. Kenya joined the force at the invitation of the African Union. 2 At the same time, Kenya's military operation in Somalia has received crucial backing from the United Nations with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon saying the war against Al-Shabaab militia was necessary to restore peace and stability in the war-torn country and the region. 3

    Meanwhile, reports noted that heavy fighting between Somalia's interim federal government backed by African union peace keeping troops and Al-shabab militants broke out in parts of capital Mogadishu. The fighting erupted in Mogadishu's Karan and Hilwa districts and neighbouring outskirts between Islamist insurgents and pro-government forces, causing unidentified damages and casualties. 4

    In other develoepmts, reports noted that an unidentified fighter jet bombed the district of Bardhere in the Gedo region, an Islamist militant controlled region in southern Somalia, killing at least two civilians. 5 Later, the military officials for the Somali interim federal government said that at least sixty Al-shabab militants were killed in the raid. Lieutenant colonel Adan Hirse Mohamed Rufle, one of Somali government troop officials in Gedo region, noted that a number of military vehicles belonging to Al-shabab were destroyed during the air raid. However, Al-shabab has not yet made any comments about the Somali government claims, but tensions of fighting run high in Bardhere town, which borders Kenya.6

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