Ministry of Information

Press Statement

Dec 14, 2007

Ethiopian military sources in Mogadishu have confirmed details of the successful operation on Thursday, against an Al-Shabab force in north-west Mogadishu, on the edge of the city not far from the Arafat district. There have been reports that Al-Shabaab units have been retreating from the central areas of the city to regroup on the outskirts after a series of successful security operations in recent weeks. As a result, Ethiopian and TFG security units have been patrolling the northern outskirts of Mogadishu. An Ethiopian patrol accidentally came upon a large concentration of Al-Shabaab. Coming under attack, the patrol called for reinforcements; the speed of the response from Ethiopian and TFG units took Al-Shabaab by surprise. In subsequent exchanges of fire, 75 Al-Shabaab were killed and four captured. Five vehicles were captured, including two technicals; a third technical was destroyed. A number of Al-Shabaab managed to escape. Ethiopian casualties were minimal.

The group, apparently numbering about a hundred was one of the largest concentrations of Al-Shabaab spotted in recent weeks, and security officials believe it included a majority of the Al-Shabaab still active in Mogadishu. Following the appointment of the new Prime Minister, Nur Hussein 'Adde' and successful negotiations with Mogadishu clan leaders, the security situation in the capital has substantially improved. Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Al-Shabaab was responsible for a mortar attack on the re-opened Bakara market, killing nine civilians. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the FDRE quoting Ethiopian military sources has disclosed that the attack appears to have been intended to distract attention from the earlier clash in Arafat. Both the attack and Al-Shabaab itself were condemned by the Chairman of the Bakara Market Association