MOGADISHU, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Somali and Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces on Monday launched a massive security operation to flush out Al-Shabaab militants in Middle Shabelle region in southern Somalia.
Israel Kaheru Bagenda, the Commanding Officer of 11 Infantry Battalion of Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), said the operation was launched to also secure main supply routes in the area.
"The purpose of today's operation is to ensure that we wipe out the Al-Shabaab elements in these general areas, and of course as you are aware that AMISOM is here to support the Somali national security forces who are already moving ahead of us in this operation," he said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.
The operation, which is conducted jointly with the Somali National Army (SNA) troops, was launched following information received that Al-Shabaab militants were destabilizing areas along Afgooye-Balidoogle road, Afgooye town, mainly around Elasha Biyaha-Mogadishu Road and surrounding areas of Jambalulu, Baghdad and Basra.
The security forces have been opening Main Supply Routes blocked by the insurgents and creating a free and secure environment for the Somali people to thrive.
Aid agencies have said the poor state of main supply routes in south-central Somalia had provided conditions for Al-Shabaab to continue laying ambushes and use explosive devices against AMISOM convoys and Somali national security forces.
Bagenda said the operation will be ongoing to ensure the main supply routes connecting the region and Mogadishu are secured to allow free movement of goods and services.
The exercise, he added, will also improve security in the adjacent areas to enable residents to live in peace, adding that the soldiers were committed to securing Somalia and had played a major role in the stabilization process.
"The Somali National Security Forces, I would say they are on course. Their morale so far is so high that is why they were able to accept to move ahead of us and whatever we do is to support them," he added.
AMISOM has managed to drive out Al-Shabaab from vast swathes of the country, including key towns in Somalia.
