Somalia, UA troops conduct operation in Marka town

Deeq A. · August 20, 2018

MOGADISHU, Somalia (Caasmada Online) – Somali army forces, along with African Union peacekeeping troops launched an operation in Marka town, some 91km southwest of Mogadishu.

The joint operation was conducted in the town that has been one of the strongholds of AlShabaab, according to Somali military.

The outgoing Deputy Army Chief, Gen. Abdullahi Ali Aanod, commended his troops for endurance, selfless service and determination exhibited in the operation.

“If we continue the operation as we have done, we shall be able to free Somalia from Al-Shabaab,” he said.

He says dozens of people had been arrested in suspecion of being members of Al-Shabaab.

The operation comes after Somali army forces re-captured on Sunday Marka town from Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab.

Al-Shabab has been waging an insurgency in Somalia for more than 10 years.

A 22,000-strong African Union force is in the country to help the government fight the al-Qaeda-linked militants.

The group has been driven out of many urban areas since 2011, however it still controls territory in rural areas and carries out gun attacks and bombings on military and civilian targets.