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Puntland government forces repelled an attack by al-Shabaab terrorist group overnight Thursday Jan. 3, 2013, where government forces killed 3 al-Shabaab/al-Qaeda terrorists and wounded 5 other attackers.
The attack occurred around 10:30pm at a location approximately 40km southwest of Bossaso, where Puntland government forces manning a remote outpost near the Galgala Mountains successfully repelled the attack and chased the fleeing attackers into the mountains.
Rebels in the Central African Republic said yesterday they were suspending their advance and would hold peace talks with the government, after regional armies sent reinforcements to stop them reaching the capital.
The Seleka rebel coalition’s lightning three-week advance from the north of the country to within striking distance of the capital Bangui in the south has raised fears of a spreading crisis and drawn regional calls for negotiations with the government in the Gabonese capital Libreville.
Forces from the Seleka rebel alliance have entered the town of Sibut after the army withdrew on Friday evening.
Meanwhile government officials have confirmed that their forces’ attempt to retake Bambari on Friday had been beaten back.
Rebel forces are now within 150km (95 miles) of the capital, Bangui.
A platoon belong to the Khaatumo militias have today voluntary surrendered to the national army in the district of Gambadha in Sool region.
General Ismael Shaqalle in a press statement released from his office today said that the platoon surrendered to the national army at a military garrison in the District of Gambadha ,”The Militias surrendered their weapons and more than four armed battlewagons to the Somaliland Defence Forces today”, said General Shaqalle.
Rebels in the Central African Republic (CAR) called on government troops to lay down their arms on Wednesday, but said they had no plans to move on the capital after capturing their fourth major town in a month.
“We call on all the sons and daughters of Central Africa, on all members of defence and security forces still loyal to (President) Francois Bozize’s regime… to lay down their arms immediately,” said a statement from the Seleka rebel coalition.
“For reasons of security and protection of civilians, we no longer consider it necessary to wage the battle for Bangui and to send our troops there as General Francois Bozize… has already lost control of the country,” it said.
Two of Mali’s rebel groups have agreed to work together to shore up security in the country’s north.
The spokesman for Ansar Dine, an Islamist group that controls Timbuktu, and a representative for the Tuareg MNLA signed an agreement Friday in Algiers, agreeing to work to secure the areas under their control and try to free hostages. Northern Mali is primarily under the control of al-Qaeda’s North Africa branch.
More details are coming from the southern port of Kismayo where Somali government forces and fighters from Ras Kamboni fought yesterday.
Eyewitnesses in Kismayo, who spoke to Shabelle but want their names used in the media because of security reasons, say that the fighting broke out when fighters from Ras kamboni militias attacked a a checkpoint manned by Somali national army.