The Uganda Contingent of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) raided Alshabaab hideouts in the thickets of Sigaale village approximately 99.5 KM South west from Mogadishu city.
The interdiction and on spot ground target separate operations in Sigaale , Adimole and Kayitoy villages, neighboring Janaale in Lower Shaballe region, saw the forces put out of action 189 Al-Qaeda linked fighters and destroyed a number of military hardware and items used by the terrorist attacks.
The Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) in series of targeted raids, destroyed 02 mounted weapons “technical” and motor bikes in separate fire strikes. In Doncadaafeedow hide out 7KM West of Janaale, the UPDF ground-aerial targets successfully disrupted an Alshabaab scheduled meetings and injured several.
The AMISOM UPDF troops did not incur any loss or injury, nor did any civilian target get affected, said Brig Gen Don William Nabasa, the Sector One commander.
“We are committed to ensuring and maintaining security and relative peace,” said Gen Nabasa during his operational assessment of frontline troops at forward base in Janaale adding “Given the available capabilities and knowledge of terrain analysis, such on spot targeted operations will continue in efforts to degrade and defeat Alshabaab insurgents, even in the wilderness.”
Such intelligence-led operations have equally forced defections, where one Alshabaab low level commander Eden Osman reported with his sub machine gun, 05 loaded magazines and 63 rounds of ammunition to Somali National Police station in Qoroyole town, approximately 75 KM North West of Mogadishu city.
The timely operations also resulted into arrest of Al-Shabaab commanders, Sayid Nuur and Mohad Jabane by the AMISOM sector one troops, the two commanders were later handed over to 83 Battalion of Somali National Army, for further management.
Recently, Alshabaab remnants have retreated to rural areas, where they emplace improvised explosive devices as their weapons of choice along main supply routes targeting AMISOM and government troops and sadly often innocent civilians get injured or lose life.
Over the last one month, following successful operations by AMISOM sector one troops against Al-Shabaab, relative calmness prevails, as most farmers conduct harvests in Lower Shebelle region.
AMISOM forces undertake operations and reconfigurations, considering protections of vulnerable civilians and key infrastructure while gradually implementing the broader Somali Transition Plan.