Africa Union and Somali Soldiers

African Union and Somali soldiers remained on their guard after gaining ground on al Shabaab militants in the port city of Barawe over the weekend. FRANCE 24 reports from the frontline of the war against Islamist rebels in East Africa. Positioned on vantage points overlooking what is one of al Shabaab’s last remaining strongholds, officers said they had avoided a hasty offensive into the town because of possible ambushes or booby-traps left by retreating fighters. “Barawe has been really important to al Shabaab because it is where they receive foreign fighters and also where weapons suppliers arrive from abroad,” said FRANCE 24’s Duncan Woodside, who was reporting from the city. Despite reports that the joint African and Somali forces met no resistance in the port city, Woodside said at least eight al Shaabab fighters and perhaps a few African Union soldiers had been killed in the operation.