Djibouti (Sunatimes) Puntland president Abdirahman Mohamed Farole has called on TFG and Kenyan troops battling Al-Shabaab rebel group in parts of Lower Juba to speed up their efforts to wrest control of the port city of Kismayo.

President Farole was speaking at the 21st Meeting of the International Contact Group on Somalia in Djabouti.

Farole said Al-Shaaba still continue to hold strategic areas in Somalia including the port cities of Kismayo and Merka, in Lower Jubba and Lower Shabelle regions, respectively.

He further said these ports, and nearby airports in Baidoa and Bali-dogle towns, serve as Al-Shabaab’s cash flow, adding they must be liberated in a coordinated effort between AMISOM, neighboring countries and Somali forces.

President Farole called for “more rapid progress towards liberating the port city of Kismayo” in order not to avail time for terrorists to regroup and have a morale boost to launch attacks across Somalia and around the world.

He also said there should be more rapid movement towards regional towns under the control of Al-Shabaab, with particular emphasis on towns with airport and port facilities; in order to cut-off the terrorists’ supply of funds, arms and fighters.

He however, cautioned the Kenyan army to avoid collateral damage during military operations in southern Somalia.