Islamist militia al-Shabaab is at the "weakest" point in its history, a spokesman for the African Union peacekeepers in Somalia (AMISOM) told dpa on Monday.
"They have no capacity to fight a conventional war, they are only running about and attacking civilians. This is their weakest time," said Paddy Ankunda, spokesman for AMISOM.
He called on African nations to send more troops to Somalia to bolster the 9,000 strong peacekeeping force and said the international community should provide logistical support.
"So we can spread out from Mogadishu and go further into the south of the country," Ankunda said an a telephone interview.