Somalia vows to step up fights to eliminate Al-Shabaab

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

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Somalia has vowed to step up efforts to eliminate Islamist group Al-Shabaab following last Friday's attack on an African Union (AU) army base in its southern Gedo region.

Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke on Monday said the attacks by "remnants of Al-Shabaab" would not prevent the government from eradicating the group.

"Evidently the terrorist group is faced with mounting pressure in their small hideaway pockets which is a result of the well planned military operations carried out by the Somali National Army and the AMISOM (AU Mission in Somalia) troops," Sharmake said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

Al-Shabaab claims to have killed 100 Kenyan soldiers and captured 12 others in the attack. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta confirmed his country lost soldiers but the exact number of casualties is not yet known.

Thirty-four Kenyan soldiers injured in the attack have been flown home for treatment.

"I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the families of the gallant soldiers who lost their lives, and to the people and government of Kenya," Sharmake said.

He said the Somali and AU troops have intensified ground and air operations in El-Adde where the attack took place.

The attack is described as the worst since Kenya sent its troops to battle Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia in 2011.

Al-Shabaab usually exaggerates the death toll of their attacks, while AMISOM rarely gives the exact numbers.

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