 |
Somali Militiamen Recapture Strategic Port Town of Kismaio
Kismaio, the southern strategic port town in Somalia, Tuesday again changed hands after the Jubba Valley Alliance forces launched a surprising attack against General Mohamed Saeed Hirsi Morgan's Somali Reconciliation and Reconstruction Council (SRRC) troops in the town.
Kismaio, the third largest town in Somalia and 500 kilometers south of Mogadishu, was on Monday captured by the Ethiopian-backed SRRC troops.
According to independent sources, the town was recaptured by the Jubba Valley Alliance forces at about 8:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday. The fighting for the control of Kismaio started Monday night at Gududey village, about 60 kilometers north of the town, and spread to the town early Tuesday morning.
The independent sources confirmed that the fighting has been the fiercest which Kismaio town has ever seen over the past three years.
So far, no official fatalities have been established, with witnesses in Kismaio saying that over 60 people, mainly civilians, have been killed and more than 110 others wounded during the fighting.
The latest fighting for control of Kismaio, which started on Sunday, has affected many parts of Somalia. There have been demonstrations in several towns in Gedo and Galgudud regions where many people protested over the renewed conflict.
In This Section
|