The newly appointed governor of Lower Shabelle, Mohamed Ibrahim Barre has vowed to step up operations against Al-Shabab fighters in the region. Al Shabaab is said to still control several towns and villages in this region of Somalia.
He pointed out that they will secure and reopen roads blocked by Al-Shabab in the forthcoming days and recapture the remaining few towns under al Shabaab and its sympathizers. Intelligence reports indicate that al Shabaab uses the roadblock to extort citizens to get funds to training camps located in remote villages in the region.
The sentiments of the government come hours after Al-Shabaab VBIED targeted forces in Afgoye town. Somali forces backed by AMISOM troops have recaptured towns and villages from Al-Shabab since February when Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo declared new offensives against the Al-Shabaab.
