AU, Somali forces seize strategic island from Shabaab

The African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and Somalia army troops on Sunday captured the strategic island of Kudhaa in southern Somalia from Al-Shabaab militants.

“Kudhaa is now under the full control of the interim Jubaland Administration soldiers and AMISOM,” Adan Mohamud, a security official with the Jubaland administration, told The Anadolu Agency by phone.

“All the Al-Shabaab terrorists have fled,” he said.

Kudhaa came under bombardment allegedly by Kenya fighter jets and naval ships for close to ten hours before Al-Shabaab fighters fled the Island.

Five vehicles belonging to the Al-Shabaab have reportedly been destroyed and a Jubaland official said that “several” militants have been killed.

The number of casualties could not be immediately confirmed.

Kudhaa, which is some 130km off the southern port city of Kismayo, was captured by Al-Shabaab in November 2014 after a bloody battle that left more than 90 people killed.

The militants used the island to export charcoal to the Middle East, their main source of revenue.

Al-Shabaab had controlled much of central and southern Somalia but recently has lost ground to AMISOM and the Somalia army.

Nevertheless, the group has continued to launch deadly attacks on government officials and security personnel.

Turkish weekly