Allied troops retake Guri’el town from ASWJ after offensive

The residents of the city which has been under ASWJ since early this month have fled to other nearby villages to escape from the government offensive. 

News Keydmedia Online
23 October 2021

GURI'EL, Somalia - Galmudug soldiers backed by Somali government forces on Saturday took full control of the central town of Guri'ell following an offensive against the Ahlu Sunna group.

According to the local residents, the attack on Saturday morning sparked fighting between the two sides in the city which has been in control of the armed Sufi group since October 1.

Before the troops entered the city, more than 100,000 residents left their villages and fled to drought-hit areas, where they faced hardships, according to the UN OCHA office in Somalia.

The security experts said the capture of the town becomes the beginning of a new conflict in Galmudug which has already been facing Al-Shabaab threats and internal political disputes.

The violence began after the leader of Galmudug state Ahmed Qoor-Qoor, an ally to Farmajo was reportedly declined to open a genuine dialogue with the Sufi sect to resolve differences.

Ahlu Sunna returned to Galmudug after nearly two years of exile following their ouster from power in early 2020 by Somali troops ahead of Qoor-Qoot's election as state president.

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