AMISOM Troops Backing SNA Capture Key Al Shabaab Transit Towns in Hiiraan Region

Highlight

The ongoing operation Juba Corridor’s recent achievement has been the retake of transit towns in Hiiraan by the AMISOM troops backing the Somali National Army (SNA).

Analysis

AMISOM troops on Thursday 30th July, 2015 re-took several key towns in Hiiraan region from the Al Shabaab terror militants.

The two day gun battle between heavily armed AMISOM troops and the militants was characterized by little resistance from the side of the militants.  The forces drove the militants out of El-Ali later on taking over Buq-aqable without any resistance by from the rebels.

The two settlements were key in the movement of people and goods along Baladweyne and Buulo-burde towns with the militants making it a habit to waylay people along the route for the past year causing high cost of living in the area.

Al-shabaab has been losing grounds in the last few days loosing key towns to the combined forces including their strongholds of Baardheere and Diinsoor in Gedo and Baay region respectively.

Hiiraan is an administrative region in south-central Somalia. The region is bordered by Ethiopia to the northwest, as well as the Somalian provinces of Galgudud to the northeast, Middle Shebelle to the south, Lower Shebelle to the southwest, and Bay and Bakool to the west.

Forecast

AMISOM encounter at Buq-aqable sends an indicator that the AL Shabaab is no longer able to match the troops’ ability in terms of arms and firepower. Militants took to their heels on sight of the heavily armed troops.

Militants have in the past taken advantage of their control of Hiiraan to levy taxes on individuals ferrying goods between Baladweyne and Buulo-burde towns. They thus will suffer incapacities in terms of finances in the near future.