The Al-Shabaab group said today that they have taken over the Geriley area in Gedo region, where Kenyan troops who were part of the ATMIS peacekeeping operation left a few days ago.
The al-Shabaab issued a statement saying that they waged a multi-directional war on a base where the Jubbaland forces were stationed, who were recently transferred to the base they left ATMIS.
It is the first area that the ATMIS troops have left and occupied by Al-Shabaab, since recently 2000 African Union troops evacuated 7 military bases.
Geriley was one of 7 stations transferred by the ATMIS peacekeeping forces in Somalia, which is part of the reduction of those forces before their departure in December next year.
Recently, the vice president of Jubbaland, Mohamud Sayid Adan warned that the ATMIS forces should leave the country. He said it was a decision that did not consider the negative consequences.
