Al-Shabaab Clash With TFG, Several Killed

{{In Somalia, about a dozen people were reportedly killed and several others injured on Saturday after a fierce gun battle erupted in southern Somali border town of Bula-Hawa following an attack by suspected Al-Shabaab militia.}}

The battle for the control of the Somali border town, which is less than 200 meters from Kenya’s northern town of Mandera, has also left two Kenyans, including Mandera East Water Officer Mohamed Ali, injured.

The fighting which erupted at around 5 pm local time (1400GMT) was pitting suspected heavily armed Al-Shabaab militia and the forces of Transitional Federal Government (TFG) who were in control of the town.

Kenya’s Mandera County Commissioner Michael ole Tialal said huge number of civilians, largely women and children, and Somali soldiers have crossed to Mandera side of the border after they fled from the heavy fighting.

“Many civilians and TFG soldiers have crossed to the Border Point One in Mandera town. The TFG soldiers and some civilians have now returned back after the fighting has subsided and the attackers repulsed,” Tialal said.

“We still have a huge number of Somali refugees who fled from the fighting who are camping on the Border Point One, but we haven’ t yet established the number and our chiefs are on the ground to do the count,” he added.

{Wire story}