Government Soldiers in Somalia have recaptured at least six villages from the Al-Shabaab, in a week the Al-Qaida linked group has terrorized several towns across the country, killing dozens of people in the process.
State media reported that they destroyed several bases of the militants in Lower Shabelle, including secret houses that they use in extorting money from the people and businesses within the Horn of Africa nation.
Although the military never mentioned the participation of foreign troops in the mission, the elite Danab Special Forces have been conducting such operations with little or no help from the African Union Mission Forces [AMISOM] and the US Africa Command.
“Somali National Army destroyed Alshabab bases including so-called court and secret houses where terrorists extort money from people in Bulo-Arundi, Malable, Siigaale, and Busley-Daud in Lower Shabelle regions, on Monday.
This comes in the wake of Al-Shabaab attacks across Somalia which have left over 30 people dead within two weeks. On Monday, two soldiers were killed in Bossaso after an IED targeted a convoy of Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni.
Dinsoor suffers food and water shortage as Al-Shabaab tightens the blockade on the city. This has resulted in the residents vacating en masse in a bid to escape the devastating situation. Madina Ibrahim, a young mother, succumbs in childbirth while evacuating the city.
Al-Shabaab still controls large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia, but joint operations by security forces have significantly dwindled their fortunes. The militants are fighting to topple the fragile U.N.- backed Somalia government.