Mogadishu, Aug. 13 -- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Somali security forces will intensify joint military operations to liberate regions still under the control of al-Shabab, the AU senior envoy said on Monday evening.

Francisco Madeira, head of AMISOM, stressed the importance of troop generation in securing Somalia, saying the country needs trained forces capable of holding liberated territories.

"Today, partners are helping Somalia generate trained and equipped forces. It is these forces that, with our support, are now holding liberated towns," Madeira said in a statement issued by the AU mission.

The AU envoy who spoke at the Eid al-Adha dinner hosted for the Muslim community in Mogadishu, said the resolve by ...