Roble visits wounded Soldiers in military hospital after Al-Shabaab attack

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The outgoing Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble Monday visited Somali National Army [SNA] troops in the military hospital in Mogadishu where dozens of them are undergoing treatment, following multiple Al-Shabaab attacks in Lower Shabelle on Saturday.

The Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants ran over Awdheele and Barire military bases in early Saturday morning, leading to fierce fighting with the troops who were alert. This was the first time Al-Shabaab was attacking SNA bases in as many months.

Roble, who was accompanied by his staff, was seen visiting several beds where the soldiers are admitted and would be heard giving them encouragement. While some would be seen smiling, others could barely talk, thus showcasing the pain they were undergoing.

The PM also thanked them for the sacrifice they have given to their country and asked them never to give up. The attack comes at the time the country's leadership is struggling to find a solution to the current political stalemate in Somalia.

Al-Shabaab media outlets Al-Kataib posted pictures and videos of their group's battles at Barire and Awdhegle bases in the Lower Shabelle region. The militants claimed that Barire military base is under their control, but the government has persistently denied this.

SNA Force claimed to have repulsed the attack and killed 100 Al Shabaab members. Al Shabab claimed that 60 soldiers were killed in the fighting but the army general Odowaa Yusuf Rageh insisted that only 14 soldiers were killed in the attack.

Al-Shabaab still controls large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia, but a concerted effort by the allied military has seen the group lose some of the strongholds considerably. Al-Shabaab is fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed Somalia administration.

GAROWE ONLINE