Kenya: Kenyan troops advance towards the Somali town of Afmadow
Kenyan troops are making further advances some 120 kilometers deep inside Somalia to seize the rebel-held town of Afmadow, military officials confirmed on Tuesday.
Military Operations Information Officer Major Emmanuel Chirchir said the soldiers will soon capture the town which has been surrounded by al-Shabaab fighters blamed for spate of abductions involving foreigners in Kenya.
“Our troops are advancing towards the Afmadow very soon and our activities will be concentrated in this town,” Chirchir told Xinhua by telephone on Tuesday.
However, local officials said the progress of Kenya and Somali troops has been slowed by muddy terrain after heavy rain.
“It rained heavily near the Kenya-Somalia border but we hope the military operation will advance inside Somalia,” said a military official on condition of anonymity.