African Union peacekeepers establish new bases in Somalia

By Guyson Nanagayi (SOURCE- AP) – Nairobi – African Union peacekeepers on Friday said they  have established nine new bases in Somalia’s capital over the last several months.

The deputy head of the AU commission on Somalia says the peacekeepers have established nine new bases over the past five months.

This  comes  after  days of bloody clashes in Mogadishu that left  many people dead .

Wafula Wamunyinyi says the bases have helped secure a key road linking government buildings with Mogadishu’s port and airport.

The area has been the scene of fierce fighting in recent days and Wamunyinyi estimated around 300 insurgents have been killed.

Fighters with al-Shabaab, a militia that has links with al-Qaeda, are trying to overthrow the weak Somali government.