AMISOM troops secure Wanla Weyn on Afgooye – Baidoa corri dor

MOGADISHU, Somalia, October 8, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Somali government forces with the support of AMISOM troops have secured the strategic town of Wanla Weyn on the Afgooye to Baidoa corridor i n lower Shabelle. Wanla Weyn is 93km from Mog adishu.

The securing of this town comees one day after AMISOM troops began their 211 km advance from Afgooye to Baidoa with aim of connecting the two regions. Wanla Weyn town falls at a strategic junction linking the tw o Shabelle regions to Baidoa and Beletweyne.

This advance is expected to d eny fleeing Al Shabaab insurgents from seeking refuge and destabilizing other regions of th e country.

AMISOM Force Commander, Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti commended his troops a nd explained the significance of this move.

“Securing Wanla Wein will allow for free movement of the population who have been restricted until now, unable to go about their daily trade and business due to the r estrictions of Al-Shabaab. It will also facilitate the provision of much needed humanitarian ssistance to the local population.”

Additionally the capture of this town denies Al Shabaab another source of illegal income after a string of defeats and the loss o f their major source of revenue in the seaports of Marka, El-maan and Kismayo. Al Shabaab had stepped up their extortion of illegal tax s from the local populations in the towns they still control.

AMISOM Force Commander Lt-Gen Andrew Gutti “This operation demonstrates AMISOM's continuing determination to su pport the people of Somalia as they embark o n a new path of renewal and reconstruction. A MISOM will continue to bring security to more areas of Somalia so that local people can live their lives and pursue their livelihoods in freedom. ”