February 25, 2016: Somali National Army backed by African Union soldiers have retaken several villages near Mahaday town in Middle Shabelle. The area was under the control of the al Shabaab militants in the ongoing mop-u spree by the SNA-AMISOM troops.
The troops didn’t face any resistance from the militants in the recaptured areas; El-baraf and Adaley. The al Shabaab fled the area after a scout reported approaching government troops. The government troops have vowed to liberate more area to ease the tension and humanitarian grief suffered by the residents.
The villages have been under the al Shabaab control for over 7 years and are among the few areas that the militants still controlled. According to local authorities in the area, the residents remained indoors to avoid being caught up in the cross fire.
Despite the militants’ attempts to assert their strength the numerous attacks against them, the abandonment of their camps and the areas they have lost is a clear indication that the militants are weak owing to the recent splinter in its ranks. Additionally, the commitment by the troops is evident to annihilate al Shabaab in the shortest time possible before they can regroup and strategize.
