Senior Al-Shabaab commander arrested in southern Somalia

KISMAYO, Somalia - A senior Al-Shabaab commander was on Wednesday arrested in Lower Jubba, in yet a milestone in the war against the Somalia-based militants, who have been terrorizing people in the Horn of Africa nation, including innocent civilians.

For the past several weeks, Somali National Army [SNA] has intensified its crackdown against the militants, who still control large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia. The militants have also intensified attacks in various strategic areas across the country.

State media reported that Mohamed Abdi Mukhtar, a senior Al-Shabaab leader who is known within the group [Sakhrawi] to hide his identity, was arrested by the elite Danab Special Forces, who get training from the US Africa Command during an operation in the West of Kismayo.

According to the military, four of Sakhrawi's bodyguards were killed during his arrest. For a long time, the commander has been evading arrest, despite topo tip-off from the locals who have been working with the military to degrade the militants.

The Danab Special Forces have been working closely with the African Union Transition Mission [ATMIS] in various operations even in the absence of the US military. The US announced recently that it is dispatching close to 500 soldiers to the Horn of Africa nation.

Last month, members from the SNA's elite commando unit killed 11 Al-Shabaab fighters near Kismayo and recovered several weapons, including a PKM machine gun. The military also arrested a number of militants during the crackdown, reports indicate.

The US has announced that its soldiers will be reporting in Somalia soonest to help in the fight against Al-Shabaab, in what could tremendously boost efforts by local soldiers. The US has been a traditional partner of Somalia both on matters of security and development.

GAROWE ONLINE