Somalia takes action against al-Shabaab militants

Somalia's armed forces have eliminated 29 al-Shabaab militants in the town of Jabad Godane in southeastern Somalia, in co-ordination with international partners, the Defence Ministry said. According to the Straits Times, al-Shabaab has waged an insurgency in Somalia since 2007 in a bid to topple the internationally-backed central government and establish its own rule based on its strict interpretation of sharia law. The ministry said on X that it also destroyed vehicles and weapons ‘that were intended for use in terrorist attacks against civilians,’ through airstrike operations in the Middle Shabelle region conducted overnight. Meanwhile, Islamic State-linked rebels killed at least 15 people in three villages in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Lubero territory, two officials said on Friday, keeping up a pattern of lethal attacks mostly targeting civilians. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) began as an insurgent force in Uganda but has been based in the forests of neighbouring DRC since the late 1990s, and is recognised by Islamic State as an affiliate. Alain Kiwewa, Lubero’s military administrator, said on Friday 16 people had been confirmed dead, reports TimesLIVE. An army spokesperson, Lieutenant Marc Elongo, said DRC troops are ‘pursuing the enemy’ without providing details.