13 Somalian soldiers killed by al-Shabab

Somalia’s military has announced the death of 13 soldiers killed in a gunfight with Al-Qaeda affiliated group, al-Shabab.

Somalia has faced near-continuous conflict for almost 30 years, while the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu has been fighting al-Shabab since 2008 [File: Mohamed Sheikh Nor/AP]

The attack took place in Afgoye district northwest of the Somali capital Mogadishu. Somali officials say the attack came after Somali forces launched an operation against the terrorist group on Wednesday, killing four militants.

Following the operation, a majority of the government’s forces returned to the capital leaving two dozen troops behind. The remaining soldiers were later attacked in the evening by the same al-Shabab operatives.

al-Shabab claims to have killed 24 government soldiers during their counteroffensive, saying, “the rest escaped and ran away.”

Fighting between both sides has been going on for close to 30 years, leaving thousands of civilians dead and millions displaced from internally and externally.

al-Shabab’s goal is to topple the Somali government, which it almost once did back in the 90s, and govern the east-African nation under its strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Already the terrorist controls large parts of southern and central Somalia and once controlled the Somali capital Mogadishu until Kenyan forces, in a joint operation with Somali forces, pushed them out in 2011.

By: Niza Nondo