Seven Al-Shabaab commanders felled in the last one week-Amisom

Seven senior Al-Shabaab commanders have been killed in the last one week in a joint Amisom and Somali army operations in Lower Shabelle region, Amisom said Tuesday in a statement.

The African Union sanctioned force said the killing of Janaale commander, Abdirashir Bugdube in April 2 added to the list of six others who were killed in sector one over the last one week. Sector one covers Mogadishu and some parts of Lower Shabelle which is under the command of Uganda and Burundi forces.

Over the last one week, senior Al-Shabaab commanders have been killed in the region including Aden Bale, who was Leego commander, Sheikh Mohamed Ali, who was second in command in Janaale and Mohamed Abribao who was a judge in Janaale.

Others include Hassan Ali Dhore, Al-Shabaab’s intelligence chief in Lower Shabelle, a Yemeni improvised explosive device, IED expert Abu Islam and a Kenyan national Sheikh Mansur said to have been the chief trainer.

Amisom sector one commander Brigadier General Sam Okiding said Al-Shabaab was now resorting to hit and run tactics to avoid clash with Amisom. “Al-Shabaab are more frequently resorting to hit and run tactics to avoid direct contact with AMISOM and remain relevant,” emphasized the Contingent Commander of Sector 1 Brigadier General Sam Okiding.

Amisom said it has been working in Janaale town to clear IEDs and open the main supply route to ease movement of population and goods.

The developments come as Amisom and Somali National Army recaptured Janaale town Monday in what sources said was without much resistance after a one week siege by Amisom of the town nearby villages forcing Al-Shabaab to flee.

Al-Shabaab took control of the town September last year after Amisom troops vacated following the killing of Ugandan troops in a base in the town.