Al-Shabaab closes in on town in central Somalia

The terrorist group ruled the city since 2009 before being captured by the moderate Islamic group, Ahlu Sunna which was dispersed by Somali government troops last year following bloody clashes.

News Keydmedia Online
19 December 2021

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Al-Shabaab was reportedly encroaching on a key city in central Somalia, threatening to drive the country’s armed forces to retreat to avoid devastating attacks on their bases.

Local residents told the Keydmedia Somali service that the Al-Qaeda-linked militants have seized important highways and the main lifelines to Mataban district located east of the Hiran region of central Somalia.

The Al-Shabaab fighters moved closer to taking the city from the Somali army’s 21st division soldiers who deserted their camps and fled to the nearby Guri’el town in the Galgadud region under government control.

If the town falls to Al-Shabaab, it will become the second takeover this month and this threat of the group’s victories in strategic regions makes it difficult for SNA and AU forces to regain control’s control.

The terrorist group ruled the city since 2009 before being captured by the moderate Islamic group, Ahlu Sunna which was dispersed by Somali government troops last year following bloody clashes.

Mataban’s near collapse and the growing threat to the Galmudug state of Somalia are partially the consequence of the government’s failure to defeat Al-Shabaab in the war involved by AU forces.

KEYDMEDIA English