Somali troops capture last village in Middle Shabelle from Al-shabab

Somali Army and allied local militias recaptured Ruun Nirgood district in the Middle Shabelle region this morning following days of heavy fighting in the suburbs of the district.

Defense Ministry Spokesman General Abdullahi Ali Aanod declared victory over Al-Shabab in a press conference held in Mogadishu. 

Mr. Ali said Ruun Nirgood was the only village held by al Shabab in the Middle Shabelle region.

The defense spokesperson said “This morning at six a.m., coalition forces took over Ruun-nirgood district,” adding that there had been battles in small villages under the district, including Juha, Al-Naima, and Al-Kowthar.

The spokesman added that the battles in villages killed at least 150 al-Shabaab members, including five foreign members, but did not mention the names of the foreign fighters.

Weeks ago, Somali forces and allied militias pushed al-Shabaab fighters out of the strategic town of Adan Yabal in the Middle Shabelle region that the Islamist group has controlled for six years.

Adan Yabaal, about 245 kilometres north of the capital Mogadishu has been under al Shabab since 2016. The district is located near the border between Hiran and Middle Shabelle regions.

United States command in Africa known as AFRICOM recently applauded what it called the ‘largest’ security operation in five years against Al-Shabaab militants group by combined Somali and African Union troops.

After Mohamud was chosen as president in May, he quickly tried to rebuild old alliances, meeting regularly with regional officials and cultivating militia leaders. 

Somalia’s clans have always been strong and are the only source of security and social welfare for most people. Almost all the militias currently fighting al-Shabab have kinship ties to the president.

A month after the new government took power, Somali special forces known as Danab and clan militias demonstrated they could work together by pushing back al-Shabab after the militants had seized a key road in Hiran region. 

Al-Shabab retaliated by blowing up water wells and phone towers and killing residents.

In August, Danab scored another success in a battle with militants in the town of Hess. 

Many local residents, inspired by al-Shabab’s defeat in Hess, took up arms as part of the clan militia.

The group now controls large parts of Jubaland and a new influx to the region is likely to occur. 

Somali Forces are aided by drones in their war against the network thus forcing them to look for cover in the Gedo, Middle Juba, Lower Juba, Lower Shebelle and Middle Shebelle regions.