Somali army liberates strategic town from al-Shabaab
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) – The Somali army has liberated the strategic town of Adanyabal in the Middle Shabelle region from al-Shabaab, the nation’s president said on Tuesday.
Addressing the public via the state television, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who previously announced a “total war” against al-Shabaab, said the “terrorists fled the town before the army, backed by local clan militia, arrived” and abducted civilians to use them as human shields.
“They are cowards, they fled the town without putting up any fight. Al-Shabaab is a history now,” the president said.
He called on the citizens to unite and support the military offensives against the al-Qaeda-affiliated group.
Adanyabal is a strategic town located 245 kilometers (152 miles) north of the capital Mogadishu. It had been a stronghold of al-Shabaab since 2016.
The government forces backed by local clan militias have liberated large swathes of al-Shabaab mainly in the state of Hirshabele since the president announced the war on al-Shabaab.
Somalia has been plagued by insecurity for years, with al-Shabaab being one of the main threats.
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