Somalia: 300 Al Shabaab suspects detained in security sweep 1 Nov 1, 2012 - 3:35:24 PM
KISMAYO, Somalia Nov 1 2012 (Garowe
Online) – Hundreds of suspected Al Shabaab agents were detained in
Kismayo after operations by Somali and Kenyan forces, Garowe Online
reports.
Government backed Somali forces said that the operations in the port
city of Kismayo were strengthening the unsteady security situation in
the city.
Abdinasir Seerar spokesman for the Raskamboni militia –a government
backed militia - said that the operations netted over 300 Al Shabaab
suspects.
“We detained over 300 people suspected of being affiliated with Al
Shabaab. We are investigating the suspects and will free everyone who
isn't guilty of a crime,” said spokesman Seerar.
The spokesman also stated that the allied forces were successful in
capturing explosives from the houses they raided Thursday morning.
According to local sources, for security reasons Somali and Kenyan
forces shut down communication systems in Kismayo while they were
conducting operations.
The allied forces amped up their security operations in Kismayo after a string of bombings over the recent weeks.
Security forces apprehended several weapons and explosives and arrested close to 50 people after a raid Wednesday morning.
According to a source close to Jubaland state officials, stabilizing
security is the most important issue before building the federal state
of Jubaland.
“The Jubaland state process has been a extensive process and the
process will bear fruits when security is stabilized,” said the official
close to Jubaland state authorities.
The Jubaland state formulation has been backed by
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD
) and
led by local communities in Gedo, Jubba regions through a community led process.
Kismayo located 500 KMs south of Mogadishu had been in the control of
Al Shabaab for close to 5 years. Somali and Kenyan forces under the
mandate of AMISOM captured the port city late September.
