Two Al-Shabaab fighters killed and four wounded in fighting in Southern Somalia

Troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) killed two Al-Shabaab fighters in fighting in southern Somalia, the AMISOM said Sunday.

AMISOM Spokesperson, Joe Kibe said the fighting took place in the outskirt of Barawe town, Lower Shabelle region on Saturday, in which four other militants sustained serious injuries.

“ We had reports from our people there that Al-Shabaab fighters attacked our forces with IED explosions, then fighting erupted at Warer-maleh location, two Al-Shabaab fighters were killed, two of our soldiers sustained injuries, but 25 camels perished during the fighting,” Joe said who spoke to Somali National News Agency.

The spokesman refuted allegations that there were civilian casualties in the fighting.

“No civilians were involved in this confrontation,”  he said.

“Information in a section of the media claiming civilian casualties is a fabrication and an attempt by Al-Shabaab to cover up their losses,” he added.

There was no immediate comment from Al-Shabaab, the group that has been battling the Somali government for a decade.

AMISOM forces have stepped up operations across the Horn of Africa nation against Al-Shabaab to secure ongoing elections.

More than 22 000 peacekeepers are deployed in Somalia in the multi-national African Union force. Al-Shabaab opposes the presence of foreign troops.

Despite being ousted from most of its key strongholds in south and central Somalia, al-Shabaab continues to launch deadly guerrilla attacks against the Somali government and African Union forces across large parts of the horn of Africa nation.