Al-Shabaab assassin killed, colleague escapes

AMISOM troops on Thursday killed a suspected Al-Shabaab militant in the outskirts of Mogadishu moments after opening fire and killing a Somalia National Army soldier.

The second suspect managed to escape on a motorcycle even as AMISOM troops intensified security across Somalia with an aim of crashing the militants who have held the Horn of Africa nation hostage for a couple of years.

“Security forces in Mogadishu shot and killed a suspected Al-Shabaab assassin, a 2nd suspect escapes. Security forces responded after the two suspects on a motorbike shot and wounded a Govt soldier in the vicinity of Bakara market junction,” VOA Journalist Harun Maruf reported.

On Monday, the deputy leader of al-Shabab, Mahad Karate, cautioned his militants to avoid shedding Muslim blood. The speech contradicts the group’s usual tactics of targeting civilian areas in Mogadishu, including hotels and restaurants.

Despite the escalating attacks targeting civilians, security forces from Mandera town said two Cuban doctors who were abducted in April, are still alive. Al-Shabaab militants demanded Sh150 million ransom for their release, elders confirmed on Wednesday.

Dr Correa and Dr Rodriguez are medical expatriates working in Kenya under a special arrangement between the government and Cuba.

The government of Kenya, which had deployed Regiment Special Forces in search of the physicians, opted to use elders from Mandera and Bulahayo in Gedo region to negotiate for their release. Elders were instructed to negotiate the ransom.

“They seem to be under the care and offering medical care services to the locals,” said a security official who cited the elders’ message.

Through the State Department of Defense, US promised last week to help Kenya crash the militants completely. Washington DC has set aside millions to improve technology among KDF.