Somalia: 4 al-Shabaab terrorists killed, 21 captured

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - At least four al-Shabaab terrorists were killed and over 21 others captured during operations in Somalia's Middle Shabelle region, African Union peacekeepers said Thursday.

Military operations against the al-Shabaab terrorist group were conducted by Burundian forces serving under the African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Somali national army.

"In the vicinity of Qoor Deere, four al-Shabaab terrorists were killed and weapons were seized," AMISOM said in a statement on Thursday.

Outside the town of Jowhar, the administrative capital of Hirshabelle State, at least 21 al-Shabaab terrorists were arrested, while others were killed in a shootout, according to the statement.

"The upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections are important to Somalia and we are ready to secure them in our areas of responsibility," Burundi contingent commander Brig. Gen. Telesphore Baranderaka said.

This comes hours after the Somali army chief of staff, Gen. Odawa Yusuf Rageh, said Thursday that Somali special forces had killed at least 20 al-Shabaab terrorists in a military operation in Somalia's southern province of Lower Shabelle.