Major-Gen. Mugishia, whose handover of command responsibilities coincided with exit of Al Shabaab militants from strategic positions in Mogadishu, also received a special peacekeeping medal in recognition for his gallant military service.

The AU said significant progress was recorded during his tenure at the helm of the AU Peacekeeping Mission for Somalia (AMISOM) since 2009, during which the force captured key positions throughout Mogadishu, resulting in moderate stability.

Major-General Fred Mugishia, who vowed to continue building on the progress made in securing Mogadishu, replaced the outgoing commander.

African Union Mission was deployed in parts of the capital to help secure key military installations, which fell in the hands of radical Islamists. Those positions included former government buildings, the port, the airport and the seaport.

Several months of training of local Somali police force and the military have enabled the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to capture the positions.

Although the Al Shabaab has quit key strategic positions in Mogadishu, the militants are promising a continuation of the battle. The rebels insist the pull-out from Mogadishu was a strategic retreat to enable them to launch attacks from other positions.

It is feared the Islamists might shift from straightforward battle with the TFG forces to guerrilla attacks and suicide bombings.

Meanwhile, Somalia President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed has vowed to continue hunting down the Al Shabaab across Somalia.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam just days after declaring victory in the battle for Mogadishu, which has intensified since 2006, President Sharif called for more troops. “There is no doubt we need more troops,” he said.

Pana 11/08/2011

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