The ministry of defense of the Somali interim government on Monday proclaimed that Al shabaab fighters, which the United States alleges to be al Qaeda’s surrogate in the horn of African nation, would be soon ousted from the regions it controls right now.
Somalia’s deputy minister of defense, Abdirashid Mommed Hidig told Shabelle by phone in Jubba regions in southern Somalia that Somali forces have gained more territories in most recent fighting in Lower Jubba and Gedo regions.
Mr. Hidig elucidated that Somali army there are on their way to Al shabaab controlled towns in the regions of Gedo, Lower Jubba and Bay with the aim of ousting Al shabaab administrations in those areas.
Shabelle Media: Ahlu Sunna threatens to attack Al shabaab
Somalia’s moderate Sufi group Ahlu Sunna Waljama ASWJ on Tuesday threatened it will launch attacks against its political antagonist Al shabaab.
Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Al Qadi, the spokesman of Ahlu SDunna fighters in Gedo region in southern Somalia said in an interview with Shabelle Media Network that they are at war on Al shabaab movement in southern regions of war-torn Somalia.
He said that they will attack Garbaharey, Bardhere in Gedo and Yurkud village in Bay region in southern Somalia.
Shabelle Media: Somali forces, Al shabaab clash in southern Somalia
Heavy clash between Somali government forces and fighters loyal to Al shabaab movement early Wednesday morning broke out parts of Gedo region in southern Somalia.
The fighting started after a number of Somali forces ambushed Al shabaab fighters in Tulo-Barwaqo, about 20 kilometers from Garbaharey town, the provincial capital of Gedo region.
Xinhua:
Government officials in the area say the Islamist group of Al Shabaab has started retreating from the battle areas around the town and that they expect to gain control of the whole of Gedo region in the next few days, a claim vehemently rejected by Al Shabaab.
Shabelle Media: Somali forces, Ahlu Sunna take control a key town in south
large number of Somali interim government joined by fighters from moderate Sufi group on Thursday confiscated a key town in southern Somalia peacefully.
Reliable sources confirmed Shabelle that the control of Garbaharey town, the regional capital of Gedo region is right now in the hands of Somali forces after years in Al shabaab grip.
The capture of the town came after Al shabaab fighters on Wednesday night deserted Garbarahey...
Garowe Online:
Al Shabaab militias withdrew from the district on Wednesday night after Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa, moderate Islamists attacked their bases in Barwaaqo village about 20kms south of Garabaharey district in Gedo region.
Gedo governor Mohamed Abdi Kaliil said local forces and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa Islamists captured the district from Al Shabaab extremists. "We are appealed to the town civilians to work with us, to defeat the extremists," he said.
Since February 2011 Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa and local forces seized Buulo-Hawo, Luuq, Garabaharey and Eelwaq districts in southern Somalia from Al Shabaab radical militants after deadly clashes that left more than 100 dead and injured more than 200 mostly civilians, and forced thousands to flee from their houses to seek refuge in neighbouring countries Kenya and Ethiopia.
AFP:
Shebab officials could not immediately be reached for comment but security sources in the areas said the Islamist fighters had temporarily retreated to around 15 kilometres (10 miles) outside the town.
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..the next objective of the forces who entered Garbaharey Thursday is believed to be the town of Bardera.
The pincer movement from the regions of Gedo and Jubba leaves the southern port city of Kismayo, the Shebab's main economic and logistical lifeline, looking increasingly isolated.
Shabelle Media: Al shabaab launches surprise attack on Somali forces in Gedo region
Somalia’s Al shabaab on Thursday afternoon have launched an ambush attack on Somali forces in Gedo region in southern Somalia.
Al shabaab are said to have ambushed government forces flanked by military vehicles at the village of Kured just outside of Luq district in Gedo region.
RNW:
Fighting erupted Thursday when a convoy of Somali military vehicles carrying supplies was ambushed on a road near the village of Bohol-Bashiir, some 25 kilometres (16 miles) southeast of the town of Luuq, the government said.
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"The information we are getting is that eight combatants died in the ambush attack. The exchange of fire lasted about two hours but the convoy eventually continued on its way," said Moalim Tahlil Ahmed, a local elder.
Several other local residents gave the same death toll.
Shebab commanders in the Gedo region where the attack took place confirmed launching the operation and claimed inflicting heavy casualties on pro-government forces but refused to elaborate.
Press TV:
al-Shabab fighters killed dozens of Somali troops in an ambush in Gedo region near the town of Luuq in Kured district.
Over 24 Somali forces lost their lives and two military vehicles destroyed in Friday's raid.
A Somali military officer told Press TV that al-Shabab fighters ambushed a military convoy heading for Luuq.
“I heard two large explosions,” the officer said.
Witnesses also confirmed that such an attack had actually taken place.
Mareeg Online: Al-shabaab and Shabelle Valley forces clash near Beletweyne
Al-Shabaab and Shabelle valley forces have clashed [Friday] at a place called “Ba’aad” which is roughly fifteen kilometers away from “Beledweyn” – the biggest town in Hiiraan region of southren Somalia --, according to local sources, Al-shabaab lunched strong offensive right after the sunset against Shebelle Valley forces especially their main base at “ba’aad” where reportedly they’ve recently been engaged in Anti-Shabaab activities by gathering local fighters and conducting military movements.
UN News Centre: UN refugee agency alarmed by large number of people fleeing Somalia
The United Nations refugee agency today voiced alarm at worsening insecurity in Somalia, which has forced 50,000 people out of the country in the first three months of this year, more than double the number of refugees who fled the Horn of Africa nation during a similar period in 2010.
The refugees have sought safety in Kenya, Ethiopia and Yemen, according to Melissa Fleming, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Kenya received most of the new arrivals – more than 31,400 – with most taken into the Dadaab refugee camp complex. The three camps around Dadaab in eastern Kenya accommodate more than 300,000 Somali refugees.
The majority of the latest group of refugees came from the Bay and Bakol regions of southern and central Somalia, two of the major conflict zones in the country, Ms. Fleming told reporters in Geneva.
“They all spoke of a grim situation inside the country, marked by relentless violence and human rights abuses. Somali refugees told UNHCR teams about forced conscription by some of the warring parties and crippling drought,” she said.
From UNOCHA's Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin for April 21-29:
UNHCR reports approximately 43,700 displacements have occurred countrywide since 23 February; 22,600 were from Mogadishu with 10,900 leaving the city and 11,700 moving to relatively safer areas of the city.Even w/o qualifying what constitutes "relatively safer", obviously not a majority voting w/ their feet to seek AMISOM-TFG protection there.
Shabelle Media: Al shabaab cut off road between Belet Hawo and Garbaharey
Al shabaab fighters in southern Somalia on Saturday cut of big road between Belet Hawo and Garbaharey towns in Gedo region in southern Somalia.
Reports emanating from Gedo region suggested that a large number of Al shabaab fighters entered the villages of Arro-As and Tulo Barwaqo just outside of Garbaharey town where Somali government forces recently took over from al Shabaab peacefully.
The arrival of Al shabaab came after Somali forces allied with moderate Ahlu Sunna Waljama fighters reportedly abandoned the town of Garbaharay.
Mareeg Online:
According to local sources, Al-Shabaab militia men were clearly seen early today withdrawing from parts of Bakool region although it’s very difficult at this early stage to determine whether this rapid withdrawal is actually part of their previously announced “deception strategy” or probably precautionary measure against the rapidly advancing TFG forces.
Mohamed Aden kishbour, who is Transitional Federal Parliament(TFP) member and allegedly was speaking from Bakool reported that Al-Shabaab withdrew their militia and technicals from Bardaale town and other surrounding villages.
The TFG parliament member asserted that TFG forces will soon advance towards all parts of Gedo region and then will conquer the nearby Bakool and Bay, which is according to his statements mostly under the TFG control.
Shabelle Media: Somali govt, Al shabaab claim victory over southern Somalia fighting
After heavy and deadly clashes, Somali interim federal government and Al shabaab, which the United States described as a terrorist group, have separately claimed victory over fighting that took place in parts of Gedo region in southern Somalia.and, as usual, "that they abandoned parts of Gedo region for military tactics".
Mohamoud Sayid Adam, a Somali MP in battle zones in southern Somalia, told Shabelle, a local radio station based in the seaside Mogadishu that Somali forces allied with Somalia’s moderate Sufi group of Ahlu Sunna Waljama ASWJ fighters have conducted operations in areas where Al shabaab stayed at.
Mr. Adam said the operation followed when Al shabaab has stopped all movements of a road linking between Belet Hawo and Garbaharay from buses and people to use.
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For his part, a spokesperson for Al shabaab group, Sheikh Abdi-aziz Abu Mus’ab says his fighters have the upper hand in the duration of the clashes.
He claimed they seized two military vehicles and a lot of weapons from Somali forces and Ahlu Sunna fighters.
Mareeg Online: Ahlu Sunna and Al-Shabaab militias clash in Galgaduud region of Somalia
The two Islamist militia of Harakat Al-Shabaab al Mujahedeen (HSM) and AHLU SUNNA WAL JAMAA (ASWJ) have clashed around Wabho village especially at place called “Wardhumaale” which is nearly thirty kilometers away from Elbour town- one of the Al-Shabaab strong holds in the region.
According to local residents, the clash was following an attack lunched by ASWJ forces in the region on Al-Shabaab position around Wabho area, the clashes however have stopped for hours before resuming again.
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This fighting comes following intense military maneuvers and preparations from ASWJ militia in the region in what appears to be pure revenge attach.
Last week, Al-Shabaab lunched strong offensive on Dhusa-Mareeb city, which is the capital of Galgaduud region and one of the ASWJ strong holds, Al-Shabaab fully controlled the city for hours confiscating properties that belongs to the other Islamist Militia including weapons and ammunition.
Mareeg Online: Al-Shabaab attack TFG and AMISOM positions around the Ex-Defense Ministry Compound
Al-shabaab has attacked TFG and AMISOM positions near the EX-Defense Ministry compound (a.k.a Gaashaandhiga).
According to the reports that are coming from Mogadishu, Al-shabaab fighters lunched an attack on Gaashaandhiga area using heavy machine guns and mortars in a bid to gain more ground around Gaashaandhigga compound which is currently under the control of government soldiers and the African union peace keeping mission troops especially the Burundians.
Two civilians were reportedly killed by the heavy exchange of mortar and artillery fire and many others were injured, some injuries were reported from as far as the Ex Cigarette and matchbox factory and Mogadishu Stadium which are roughly four to five kilometers from the fighting scene.
With both warring parties remain silent about this incident, its difficult to know what’s really behind this limited clashes knowing the fact that both sides were building defenses’ and digging trenches around their positions at Gaadhaandhigga right after the Burundian contingent took control of the area nearly two months ago after bloody battle with Al-Shabaab which claimed the lives of some fifty Burundian soldiers.
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