Somalia’s Jubaland calls for war on Al Shabaab

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MOGADISHU – Somali state President of Jubaland has vowed to launch retaliatory attack on major Al Shabaab strongholds, a day after the group carried out massive attack on military base near Kismayo.

The al Qaeda inspired group claimed on Saturday to have overrun military base in Sanguni area, some 50km north of Kismayo, killing 41 soldiers and burned down the base.

The President of Jubaland Ahmed Madobe has announced on Sunday war on major towns held by Al Shabaab, in response to the Saturday’s attack on Sanguni army base.

The announcement was made after Ahmed Madobe paid a visit to army camps in Dhobley, a town close to Kenyan border along Somalia.

He urged all his military forces to prepare joint military offensive to flush out the remnants of Al Shabaab in Middle Juba region of Somalia.

Mr. Madobe hailed forces’ efforts and called Saturday’s attack on Sanguni army base as “a major blow on the al Qaeda-linked group”.

The al Qaeda inspired group lost key towns in south and central to Somali army forces backed by African Union troops, but it still holds large swaths where is believed to launch from attacks.

The group has also increased activity along the Kenyan border region with Somalia as its fighters carried out last week 19 hours siege of hotel complex in Kenya’s capital Nairobi.

However, Al-Shabaab regularly carries out attacks in Somalia, amid rising drone strikes against its fighters carried out by US military in the war-ravaged nation of Somalia.