Kenyan among top Shabaab commanders killed by AMISOM

A Kenyan identified as Sheikh Mansur is among six Al Shabaab commanders killed by African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somalia National Army over the past few days.

In a statement to newsrooms on Tuesday, AMISOM said the deaths bring to total the number of Al Shabaab commanders killed by the allied forces to seven in one week and comes just three days after the killing of another Al Shabaab commander Abdirashir Bugdube in Janale.

The Kenyan is said to have been the chief trainer in the Al Shabaab circles.

Additionally, AMISOM has announced that they have killed over 300 Shabaab fighters over the last one month in their bid to stabilise the troubled country.

“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 Gen. Sam Okiding.

AMISOM further stated that operations to open the main supply route to the town of Janale and clear Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) continue and have now extended into the town.

The clearance activities are meant to ease the movement of the population and goods.

The report comes after AMISOM earlier announced that it has destroyed an illegal check point used by Al Shabaab at Beer Xani, Lower Shabelle Region.

The check point was used to illegally tax Somali people, depriving them of their hard earned resources.

@benjaminwafula