Armed militants from the Shabaab, a group allied with Al Qaeda, left Kismayo in pickup trucks after freeing prisoners in the town, Muse Hassan, a Kismayo resident, said by phone. Nigeria already has Individual Police Officers IPOs in Somalia and the deployment of FPUs clearly demonstrates its strong commitment to peace and stability not only in Somalia but also the entire continent. Gunnile Carson who arrived in Mogadishu on Tuesday focused on ties between two countries.
Carson congratulated president Hassan and showed support for the newly born government for Somalia, saying that Sweden is committed to support the country. Somali troops supported by Kenyan defense forces launched an attack on the military barracks of al Shabaab militants in the area, military officials said. The officials also said that that the allied forces will soon take over Kismayo town, the head quarter of Lower Jubba region.
Speaking at a press conference in Mogadishu, Mr. Puntland forces have been conducting security operations in Galkayo, the capital of Mudug region, arresting dozens of suspected al Shabaab members, reports said on Tuesday.
The operations, according to Puntand security officer Muhaydin Ahmed Muse who spoke to Shabelle Media, have been to secure the city of Galkayo and to force out al Shabaab agents active in the city. Somali government forces are advancing on Kismayo, the key stronghold of al Shabaab, as thousands of residents flee an expected assault. A Somali government army general told the BBC that his forces were intending to take the port, but did not say when.
The United Nations refugee agency has reported a sudden spike in the number of civilians fleeing Kismayo from a few dozen to more than 1, a day. Those who can afford it are hiring buses and trucks to leave the city.
