...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
forces engaged in a heavy shootout with al-Shabaab
...
the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord...Lions of Islam on the outskirts of Qoryoley district in Lower Shabelle region.
The battle broke out after heavily armed al-Shabaab fighters staged an assault against military bases belonging to the allied troops in several villages outside the town.
The fighting which raged on for several minutes has inflicted casualties on both warring sides, but, the loss has not yet been established.
The al-Qaeda-linked Lion of Islam group al-Shabaab has intensified attacks targeting Somali and AMISOM military camps in the southern region, near the capital Mogadishu in the past.