Al-Shabab attacks Africa Union Troops bases in Somalia

The Somali militant group al-Shabab has conducted raids targeting military bases of Africa Union Troops providing security to Somalia. 

The group attacked positions of soldiers from Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) over the weekend. 

Dalsan TV has not independently verified the impact of attacks claimed by the militants who were recently removed from many strategic areas in  Central and Southern Somalia.

Fighters of the militant group attacked Kenya Defense Forces Positions in Hosingow, Lower Jubaland, while another group launched an attack targeting Ethiopian National Defense Forces in Wajid. 

Ethiopia and Kenya are one of the troop contributing countries to the Africa Union Transition Mission in Somalia which is mandated by the UN Security Council to help Somalia degrade al-Shabab.

Both ATMIS Mission Headquarters and Force Headquarters have not commented on the attacks targeting soldiers serving under the mission.

Kenya and Ethiopia also remained silent on the reports of the raids by fighters of the Somali militant group al-Shabab. 

The group has carried out insurgent attacks since 2011 when they were toppled and removed from Mogadishu and all other cities in Somalia.

It emerged as the radical youth wing of Somalia’s now-defunct Union of Islamic Courts, which controlled Mogadishu in 2006, before being forced out by Ethiopian forces.

There are numerous reports of foreign jihadists going to Somalia to help al-Shabab, from neighbouring countries, as well as the US and Europe.

It is banned as a terrorist group by both the US and the UK and is believed to have between 7,000 and 9,000 fighters.

The group wants to impose a strict version of Sharia in areas under its control, including stoning to death women accused of adultery and amputating the hands of thieves.

In recent months, the Somali government declared successful gains in the fight against al-Shabab which has been removed from more rural villages in Hiran and Galmudug.

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