SOMALIA / BAY REGION OFFENSIVE

Somali government forces with the support of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) are on a sustained offensive against the handful of al-Shabaab bases left in the country’s Bay Region. AU-UN/IST

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:00:57
• Production Date: 26 February 2013
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: AFRICAN UNION - AU; AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN SOMALIA – AMISOM
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY; TERRORISM
• Geographic Subject: SOMALIA
• MAMS Id: U130226f

Description

STORY: SOMALIA / BAY REGION OFFENSIVE
TRT: 0:57
SOURCE: AU/UN IST
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS

DATELINE: 22 FEBRUARY 2013, BAY REGION, SOMALIA

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, AMISOM soldiers marching
2. Med shot, soldiers on the move
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Brigadier Michael Ondoga, AMISOM, Uganda Contingent Commander:
“The troops are in good shape, their moral is high, everything is going on well, we are not meeting any resistance yet from al-Shabaab, all they do when they see us moving towards them is to run away, so things are moving on well and I’m sure in a few days to come we’ll be in Buurhakaba.”
4. Wide shot, AMISOM soldiers walking past a tank
5. Med shot, AMISOM soldiers walking in front of a military truck

Storyline

Somali government forces with the support of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) are on a sustained offensive against the handful of al-Shabaab bases left in the country’s Bay Region.

The securing of the key towns of Dardan and Jirada-Kullow yesterday (February 25) raises to six the number of strategic positions captured by the allied forces in less than ten days. This renewed offensive follows last week’s recovery of the towns of Aw-dheegle, Jannale and Barrire in lower Shabelle and the Jowhar airfield in Middle Shabelle.

The allied forces are currently moving to secure other towns along the strategic Afgooye-Baidoa corridor, as militants from the Al Qaeda-linked terror group flee without putting up resistance.

Uganda’s Contingent Commander, Brigadier Michael Ondoga said that the troops were in good shape, adding that “their moral is high, everything is going on well, we are not meeting any resistance yet from al-Shabaab, all they do when they see us moving towards them is to run away, so things are moving on well and I’m sure in a few days to come we’ll be in Buurhakaba”.

AMISOM’s civilian component has been engaging with local leaders and administrations in the recovered districts to discuss activities that can be undertaken immediately to enhance security and protect the hard won military gains.