United Nations Photo

Soldiers of the Kenyan contingent serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) disembark from a vehicle at their sector headquarters in the town of Dhobley, southern Somalia.

Over the last two months, AMISOM forces supporting the Somali National Army (SNA) have secured a string of towns and centres along the road between Afmadow and Kismayo, and forces now sit within 5 kilometres outside the last stronghold of the extremist group, Al Shabaab. On 28 September, an advance AMISOM force made an amphibious landing on beaches north of Kismayo and has so far secured the northern suburbs of the city, the old airport, Kismayo University, and the road leading to Somali capital Mogadishu.