Kismaayo 21 dec -12 (Shabelle)— 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.
The eyewitnesses say that the Somali national army who under attack by Ras kamboni militias defended their position by killing two of the assailants before the fighting intensified later with the deployment of battle wagon technicals.
Eight persons confirmed are died including civilians caught in the crossfire.
Somali national are reported to be in control of the area where the fighting occurred while the other group has been forced out of the area.
Ras kamboni are militias led by Ahmed Madobe, a former warlord who was initially in the Islamic courts union and fighters of the group were once allied with Alshabab before they turned their guns on each other and it later switched to the Somali government as allies against Alshabab.
Kismayo, which was the last bastion of Alshabab, is under the control of coalition forces from the African union particularly contingents from Kenya, the Somali national and those of Ras kamboni.
Shabelle news desk
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