MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Troops from African Union (AU) will rump up their operations to secure the horn of Africa nation despite covid19 disruption.
In a statement, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said its troops have remained steadfast and continue to implement the mission’s mandate despite reducing troop numbers early this year and the disruptions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Early this year, AMISOM had to reduce troop numbers by 1000, spread across all the five Troop Contributing Countries.
Since December 2017, AMISOM has been reducing its troop numbers in line with relevant UN Security Council decisions. Ugandan troops are in charge of Sector 1, which includes Lower Shabelle region and Mogadishu.
Additionally, due to the global corona virus pandemic, Sector 1 has had to put on hold the rotation of its troops both in and out of the mission but Gen. Otto noted that this has not affected operations or dampened the morale of the troops.
Brig. Gen. Richard Otto, the Contingent Commander of Sector 1 AU troops, said the reduction had not affected operations in his area of responsibility.
“I have troops who were supposed to rotate out but have not because of this situation. Most of the countries have restricted their airspaces and border posts, but this is aimed at protecting and controlling the spread of the disease from other countries. My troops have been informed and they are aware. It has not affected their morale,” Gen. Otto explained.
Gen. Otto said his troops are maintaining all their locations, continuing with offensive missions against Al-Shabaab and are protecting population centers and main supply routes.
“All the main supply routes under my sector are operational. Vehicles continue to move, even civilian vehicles continue to move from Lower Shabelle into Mogadishu and from Mogadishu back to those towns, including Janaale, Marka, up to Baraawe,” General Otto said.
He said counter offensive operations that resulted in the capture of major bridge towns, especially of Janaale, in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia early this year had dealt a huge blow to Al Shabaab, denying the militants freedom of movement and operation, and seriously curtailing their ability to wage war.
“When we captured Janaale, we found a big local factory for manufacturing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Since Janaale was captured by AMISOM, the situation has changed completely because Al-Shabaab is no longer free to cross River Shabelle from the northern part and come to the southern part because that was the only bridge town remaining on the River Shabelle under the militants,” Gen. Otto explained.
Uganda AMISOM Forces, together with the Somali National Army (SNA) last year launched operation Badbaado, capturing four key bridge towns-Sabiid-Anole, Bariire, Ceel Saliini and Awdegle, and culminating in the capture of Janaale in March 2020.
Discussion about this post