Lack of familiarity with towns derails AMISOM advance on Al-Shabaab controlled areas

Former Somali state defence, Yussuf Mohamed Indha-Adde said African Union Peace-Keeping Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops look as if they tiring and lowered their advances on Al-Shabaab controlled areas though it has made significant progress since it first deployed to Mogadishu in March 2007.

Speaking to Goobjoog News, Indha-Adde said AMISOM has also not been able to make much progress on its broader stabilisation agenda in these recovered settlements as it is not familiar with those areas and Al Shabaab therefore remains able to conduct various forms of attacks, including overrunning some of AMISOM’s forward operating bases.

“The AMISOM soldier is a foreigner, he is not familiar with the area he is operating therefore he is not able to trace Al-Shabaab fighters in the bush so Somali national Army strengthen” said Indha-Adde.

He said AMISOM lacks sufficient capabilities in the area of military engineering units.

In February 2007, the United Nations Security Council authorised the African Union to deploy a peacekeeping mission in support of Somalia’s Transitory Federal Institutions (TFIs).

The Security Council authorized the Member States of the African Union to maintain the deployment of AMISOM, as set out in paragraph 1 of resolution 2093 (2013) until 30 November 2015.

AMISOM continues to support the FGS’ commitment to a credible electoral process in 2016 and is actively working closely with the FGS and SNA to bring peace and stability to the nation.