Nine militants killed as Somali military steps up operation 

The fresh operation, according to the Somali military is aimed at reopening the main roads blocked by Al-Shabaab, which has led to skyrocketing inflation and a humanitarian crisis faced by the residents.

News Keydmedia Online
5 August 2021

MOGADISHU, Somalia - At least nine Al-Shabaab militants have been killed in fierce fighting with the Somali army on the outskirts of Wajid district in the Bakol region on Wednesday, officials said.

The fresh operation, according to the Somali military is aimed at reopening the main roads blocked by Al-Shabaab, which has led to skyrocketing inflation and a humanitarian crisis faced by the residents.

During the operation, the SNA encountered fierce resistance from Al-Shabaab before taking over the base, which is believed the militants used to orchestrate attacks against the town.

Al-Shabaab lost Wajid and other key towns in southern Somalia in 2014 during a joint Somali and AU troops’ offensive that forced militants the flee from their main strongholds in the south and central Somalia.

There are a large number of Ethiopian troops who have been accused of not carrying out operations to reopen the roads linking the town to the rest of the region as their supplies are airlifted to their bases.

Al-Shabaab has besieged all the districts in Somalia that fell to the government in a bid to disrupt trade and transport, making the life of locals very difficult after they were being cut off from the rest of the country.

As the country begins the election, the government forces launched an assault in different parts of the country last month, including the Mudug region, where officials said more than 200 Al-Shabaab fighters were killed in a three-week-long operation.

KEYDMEDIA English