Al-Shabaab 'Spoils of War' from Afmadow Battle

The pro al-Shabaab website SomaliMemo has released a number of photos claiming to display weapons and equipment said to have been captured from Kenya Defence Force (KDF) personnel during recent battles in and around the town of Afmadow in Lower Jubba region, Somalia.

These weapons appear to include Kalashnikov rifles, 1 Negev model light machine-gun, 3 PKM general purpose machine-guns, 1 FN MAG general purpose machine-gun, 1 recoilless rifle (appears to be a B-10) and 2 RPG-7 grenade launchers as well as ammunition, radios Kenyan money and other equipment.

While indeed some, if not all of these weapons may have been captured by al-Shabaab from the KDF, Somali National Army or even from the pro-government Raskamboni Movement, it is also possible that this display was faked by using weapons already held by al-Shabaab fighters. Each of these weapons with the exception of the Negev model light machine-gun is commonly found in the hands of both pro and anti-government Somali forces and even the Negev itself may have been captured during a previous engagement. 

Regardless of whether or not this display may accurately display weapons captured from KDF for pro-Somali government forces the battle that recent fighting in and around Afmadow presents a timely reminder that al-Shabaab still remains far from defeated and continues to remain a potent threat to the peace and security of Somalia.

Source:  
http://www.somalimemo.net/index.php/component/content/article/1-warar/2698--war-deg-deg-ah-mujaahidiinta-al-shabaab-oo-kismaayo-ku-soo-bandhigay-hubkii-iyo-gawaaridii-laga-soo-furtay-ciidamada-kenya-sawiro