Kenyan troops seize town in march to Kismayu

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Photo/FILE Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) information officer Cyrus Oguna. 

By NATION REPORTER
Posted  Friday, September 14  2012 at  23:29

IN SUMMARY

• The victory comes just three days after KDF killed more than 50 Al-Shabaab militants and captured Harbolle Town on their way to Kismayu

Kenyan troops in Somalia on Friday captured Bibi Town from Al-Shabaab, the military said.

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) information officer Cyrus Oguna said African Union forces, under whose banner the troops have been operating, killed three militants while the rest fled the 12.45pm onslaught.

“The forces faced little resistance from Al-Shabaab militants, who were easily repulsed,” Mr Oguna said. “Assorted weapons and ammunition were recovered during the engagement.

“Three TFG (Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government) soldiers sustained minor injuries during the engagement and have been accorded the necessary medical attention. Amisom (African Union Mission in Somalia) forces did not encounter any injuries.”

Ultimate prize

He said Al-Shabaab had used Bibi to control their movements to and from Beles Quoqaani through Aglibah and extending to Afmadow, the other towns under KDF control.

The victory comes just three days after KDF killed more than 50 Al-Shabaab militants and captured Harbolle Town on their way to Kismayu, the ultimate prize for the military operation dubbed “Linda Nchi”, a year since entering Somalia. A KDF soldier and six others from the Somalia National Army were injured in the battle for Harbolle.

Kenyan troops on the ground were boosted by aerial operations in which helicopter gunships were used.

Harbolle is a small town and al-Shabaab had used it to station a defence line with the hope of halting the march to Kismayu.

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Friday’s victory was the third in 14 days following the capture of Miido, another town on the way to Kismayu. Five Kenyan soldiers were killed in that fight while five others were injured.

100 rebels killed

KDF said nearly 100 rebels were killed during the capture of Miido and follow-up operations.

Military headquarters in Nairobi described Miido as a strategic town, saying its capture was a great achievement in enabling the troops’ march to Kismayu.

The KDF Chief of General Staff, Gen Julius Karangi, paid tribute to the soldiers involved in the war against Al-Shabaab for their bravery.

Kismayu is the last bastion of Al-Qaeda-linked rebels in southern Somalia.