Somali government forces accompanied by the African Union peacekeepers captured al-Shabaab’s last major stronghold in the southern part of the country on Sunday after insurgents withdrew days ago, an Official has confirmed.
The coastal town of Baraawe, which is some 180 kilometres (110 miles) south of the capital Mogadishu, has been a vital lifeline for the insurgents since losing the control of Mogadishu in 2011 and Kismayo in 2012.
Abdulkadir Siidi, who is the governor of Lower Shabelle region which Barawe under comes said that the coalition army didn’t face any resistance.
‘’ The local people of Barawe welcomed us very well and the situation of the town is calm,’’ he said hours after the town was secured.
Somali government said that the group used the town to launch attacks in Mogadishu.
Al-Shabaab militants abandoned the town last Friday after facing a major pressure from their opponents. Their officials haven’t yet commented about losing the town.
No casualties have been reported so far.
The latest offensive against the al-Qaeda-linked militant group, which has been named ‘’Operation Indian Ocean’’ is the most concerted drive to eradicate the extremists from the country, military commanders have said. The group has been blamed for waging deadly attacks against government personnel and civilians.
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