Somalia says 87 Al Shabaab militants killed in Sanguni raid

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Somalia says it killed at least 87 Al Shabaab fighters in suicide and gun attack on military base in north of the coastal town of Kismayo.

Monday’s attack started with suicide car bombs detonated at the base in Sanguni area, about 50km north Kismayo.

The attack was claimed by Al Shabaab group through its website.

The group says it killed 27 military soldiers during the raid, adding that its fighters overran the base and took away weapons.

Somalia’s Ministry of Information confirmed that the military forces had killed 87 militants in the attack.

In an online statement issued by the Ministry said the Somalia forces repulsed the attack and warded off the militants.

“Earlier today, we have killed 87 militants, who carried out an attack on our military base in Sanguni area near Kismayo”, the Ministry said.

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.

With reporting by Abdirisak Mohamud Tuuryare from Mogadishu, Somalia