STORY: AMISOM & SNA discover drugs, alcohol in al Shabaab hideout TRT: 2:18 SOURCE: AU/UN IST RESTRICTIONS:

This media asset is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is not to be sold on and is restricted for other purposes. All enquiries to news@auunist.org CREDIT REQUIRED: AU/UN IST LANGUAGE: SOMALI/NATS DATELINE: March 16, 2014 BUULA BURDE, SOMALIA SHOTLIST: 1. Wide shot: town of Buula Burde as SNA and AMISOM troops walk on the streets 2. Medium shot: civilians going about their business in the town of Buula Burde 3. Medium shot: elderly men seated along the street talking 4. Wide shot: pan of building block 5. Medium shot: chain dangling on a hang tree in outside building block 6: Wide shot: AMISOM soldiers displaying women clothes that were left behind 7. Medium shot: women clothes littered on the floor 8. Wide shot: AMISOM soldiers display the al Shabaab flag 9. Medium shot: al Shabaab flag with writings on it 10. Wide shot: wall with markings in one of the rooms 11. Medium shot: AMISOM soldier going through items in the room 12. Wide shot: AMISOM exits one of the rooms holding rubbish from the room 13. Close up shot: cigarette and Khat remains on blue paper bag 14: Close up shot: bullets spread on the ground 15: Close up shot: empty bottles of alcohol 16. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) Abdi Asiis Durow, the former Commissioner Bula Burde town What they do and everything they say including telling lies is contrary to religion. They drink wine, smoke drugs in the worst way a human being can do. We have seen the places that they have raped girls and how they devastated the nations belongings, they turned everything upside down. What people told us about them was very bad and it is even worse that we have seen for ourselves, he says. 17. Wide shot: suspected al Shabaab fighter seated on floor after arrest 18. Close up shot: chains around a suspects ankles

STORY: The ongoing offensive by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) together with the Somali National Army against the al Shabaab has exposed the insurgents as engaging in practices contrary to Islam, the religion which they claim to fight for. The troops liberated the town of Buula Burde in the Hiran Region last week, and tours to different parts have exposed hide outs where alcohol and drugs were being used the terrorists. Also discovered during the security and search operations are unkempt houses littered with clothes belonging to women, which are suspected to have been detention cells for females.

Buula Burde is the sixth town to be liberated by AMISOM and SNA troops as part of the offensive that began this month. Speaking after the discovery, the town residents said it was quite ironic that the insurgents that purported to fight for religion would be the same acting contrary to its commands. Abdi Asiis Durow, the former Commissioner Bula Burde town says the discoveries were quite disheartening. What they do and everything they say including telling lies is contrary to religion. They drink wine, smoke drugs in the worst way a human being can do. We have seen the places that they have raped girls and how they devastated the nations belongings, they turned everything upside down. What people told us about them was very bad and it is even worse that we have seen for ourselves, he says. Also discovered by the forces is a hang-tree where all who disagreed with the extremists demands were publicly executed without any show of mercy.

The al-Shabaab extremists left a trail of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) which were planted at the police station, on trees and along the main roads. Many of the IEDs were safely detonated while others were dis-assembled. The insurgents had occupied Buula Burde town for 7 years. It is strategically located, connecting Central Somalia, Lower Shabelle, Bay and Bakool regions. The Shabelle River passes through the town ensuring uninterrupted supply of water throughout the year.
AMISOM has pledged to help liberate as many areas as possible from the Al Shabaab terrorists to restore peace and stability is Somalia. The offensive is being implemented under the command of the AMISOM Force Commander Lt. Gen. Silas Ntingurirwa. End.