Military troops in Somalia have driven Somalia’s al Shabaab militants out of the major strongholds the group has held and operated from to launch attacks on Somalia and other neighboring countries.
The offensive by the military troops also went ahead to deprive the militant group of revenue sources that they have controlled for a long time.
The militant group however continues to operate from bases in the southern Juba Valley and in northern Puntland’s Galgala hills, a region outside the African Union’s area of operation.
It is from these bases that that the Al Shabaab militants are continuing to launch attack on Mogadishu and other government-held areas.
See also: Al Shabaab Kill Three Policemen in Puntland Police Station
The African Union’s AMISOM peacekeeping force, Somali soldiers and other military troops have pushed the group, which wants to topple the Western-backed government, into smaller pockets of territory since launching an offensive last year.
The situation of the country’s Putland has drawn international concern and the AU-U.N. have just done a benchmarking review of AMISOM and the Somali national army and plans to expand the military operative in this area are underway.
The Somali government has said that the Juba Valley, which lies in the far south near the strategic Kismayo port, was the next target for the offensive by the military troops, but has not said when the offensive will be launched for security reasons.
Puntland, which has been slowly drawing closer to the federal government in Mogadishu, has agreed to integrate 3,000 of its forces into the Somali national army.
Good job!!