Somalia's al-Shabaab Islamists abandon last major stronghold of Kismayo after government assault Somalia's al-Shabaab Islamist group has conceded the loss of its last major stronghold after an attack by Kenyan and Somali government troops on the port city of Kismayo. African Union assault on al-Shabaab strongold in Somalia Image 1 of 2 “Kenyan maritime forces with Somali national army assistance landed with full surprise early this morning. There is some fighting still continuing, but we are in control.” Photo: AP Mike Pflanz in Nairobi and Abdiaziz Abdinur in Mogadishu 9:20AM BST 29 Sep 2012 Comments3 Comments Gunmen from the movement, which has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda, withdrew from Kismayo overnight following a combined siege by their Western-backed opponents. "We moved out our fighters ... from Kismayu at midnight," al Shabaab spokesman, Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage, told Reuters on Saturday. The loss of Kismayo, which provided al-Shabaab with lucrative revenues via control of its Indian Ocean port, could prove a final nail in the coffin for the movement, which once controlled most of southern Somalia and also the capital, Mogadishu. It imposed a Taliban-style regime throughout its fiefdoms, with stonings and public executions commonplace. However, Sheikh Rage threatened to strike back with a guerrilla campaign against the African Union forces, both in Kismayo itself and the surrounding countryside.

Somalia's al-Shabaab Islamists abandon last major stronghold of Kismayo after government assault

Somalia's al-Shabaab Islamist group has conceded the loss of its last major stronghold after an attack by Kenyan and Somali government troops on the port city of Kismayo.

Image 1 of 2

“Kenyan maritime forces with Somali national army assistance landed with full surprise early this morning. There is some fighting still continuing, but we are in control.” Photo: AP

Mike Pflanz in Nairobi and Abdiaziz Abdinur in Mogadishu

9:20AM BST 29 Sep 2012

3 Comments

Gunmen from the movement, which has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda, withdrew from Kismayo overnight following a combined siege by their Western-backed opponents.

"We moved out our fighters ... from Kismayu at midnight," al Shabaab spokesman, Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage, told Reuters on Saturday.

The loss of Kismayo, which provided al-Shabaab with lucrative revenues via control of its Indian Ocean port, could prove a final nail in the coffin for the movement, which once controlled most of southern Somalia and also the capital, Mogadishu.

It imposed a Taliban-style regime throughout its fiefdoms, with stonings and public executions commonplace.

However, Sheikh Rage threatened to strike back with a guerrilla campaign against the African Union forces, both in Kismayo itself and the surrounding countryside.

Somalia's al-Shabaab Islamist group has conceded the loss of its last major stronghold after an attack by Kenyan and Somali government troops on the port city of Kismayo.

Image 1 of 2

“Kenyan maritime forces with Somali national army assistance landed with full surprise early this morning. There is some fighting still continuing, but we are in control.” Photo: AP

Mike Pflanz in Nairobi and Abdiaziz Abdinur in Mogadishu

9:20AM BST 29 Sep 2012

3 Comments

Gunmen from the movement, which has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda, withdrew from Kismayo overnight following a combined siege by their Western-backed opponents.

"We moved out our fighters ... from Kismayu at midnight," al Shabaab spokesman, Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage, told Reuters on Saturday.

The loss of Kismayo, which provided al-Shabaab with lucrative revenues via control of its Indian Ocean port, could prove a final nail in the coffin for the movement, which once controlled most of southern Somalia and also the capital, Mogadishu.

It imposed a Taliban-style regime throughout its fiefdoms, with stonings and public executions commonplace.

However, Sheikh Rage threatened to strike back with a guerrilla campaign against the African Union forces, both in Kismayo itself and the surrounding countryside.