african union somali troops open key road seized from islamists
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

African Union, Somali troops open key road seized from Islamists

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice African Union, Somali troops open key road seized from Islamists

Mogadishu - AFP

African Union and Somali government forces have opened a key route after months of fighting, commanders said Tuesday, reaching the former Islamic stronghold of Baidoa by road for the first time. Troops from the 17,000-strong AU force have been battling for almost a year to open up the 240 kilometre (150 mile) stretch of road -- a former stronghold region of Somalia's Al-Qaeda linked Shebab -- running northwest from Mogadishu. Ethiopian troops fighting from the west captured Baidoa from the extremists last year, and AU troops later joined them, arriving by air. But Baidoa had remained cut off from the capital as Shebab fighters still controlled the road to Mogadishu. On Tuesday, the AU force said its soldiers had pushed the final 60 kilometres (40 miles) from Burhakaba, wrested from the Islamists in February. "This significant move not only allows for free movement of the population, but also opens up this key supply route and allows for the provision of humanitarian aid," the AU force said in a statement. AU troops made their first significant push outside Mogadishu in May 2012, when they captured the town of Afgoye from the Shebab. The opening of the road comes as Ethiopian troops reportedly prepare to pull out of several southwest Somali regions it controls, and will potentially allow AU troops to bolster defences with heavy weaponry from their main base in Mogadishu. Despite a string of losses in recent months, the Shebab remain a potent threat, still controlling rural areas as well as carrying out guerrilla attacks in areas apparently under government control. The extremists retook the southwestern Somali town of Hudur just hours after Ethiopia pulled out there last month. Somalia has been ravaged by conflict since 1991 but a new UN-backed government took power last year, ending eight years of transitional rule by a corruption-riddled administration.

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

african union somali troops open key road seized from islamists african union somali troops open key road seized from islamists

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

african union somali troops open key road seized from islamists african union somali troops open key road seized from islamists

 



GMT 22:17 2017 Monday ,25 September

Stephens crashes out of Wuhan Open

GMT 09:29 2011 Saturday ,03 September

Cristiano Ronaldo:\'I shut people up all year\'

GMT 09:37 2017 Tuesday ,21 November

Sixth Miss World win draws India level

GMT 12:24 2017 Tuesday ,21 November

SAGITTARIUS (November23rd-December21st)

GMT 10:21 2017 Wednesday ,18 October

Egypt’s former football official calls Cuper

GMT 00:49 2014 Saturday ,30 August

Daum to launch North Korean map service

GMT 12:23 2012 Sunday ,05 August

Afghanistan\'s National Museum regains treasures

GMT 17:04 2012 Friday ,09 March

Egypt verdict expected Sunday
 
 Emirates Voice Facebook,emirates voice facebook  Emirates Voice Twitter,emirates voice twitter Emirates Voice Rss,emirates voice rss  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

emiratesvoieen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen
emiratesvoice emiratesvoice emiratesvoice
emiratesvoice
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice