The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) announced Sunday that over 50 al-Shabaab terrorists were killed in a recent joint military operation. This crucial operation was conducted in partnership with the Somali army in the strategic town of Bariire in the Lower Shabelle region.
According to a statement from the AU mission, a significant number of al-Shabaab terrorists also sustained serious injuries during the engagement on Sunday. The mission and the Somali army are determined to recapture Bariire and other territories still under the control of al-Shabaab.
Their unified goal is to ensure the establishment of lasting peace and vital security for the people of Somalia. El Hadji Ibrahima Diene, the special representative of the African Union Commission, spoke to the troops’ resolve in the official statement.
The AUSSOM mission also directly rejected recent media reports that had suggested heavy casualties were suffered among its soldiers during the operation. Bariire, the town where the fighting occurred, is a strategic agricultural hub located 73 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of the capital Mogadishu.
Al-Shabaab has now been actively waging a persistent insurgency against the Somali government for more than 16 years. The militant group regularly targets security forces, government officials, and civilians in its relentless campaign of violence across the country.