The Islamist militants, who aim to overthrow the United Nations-backed government, recaptured several settlements this month in central and southern parts in the country.
Advertisement
The militants have been pushed out of the capital, Mogadishu, and other major cities in the country by government forces and the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM), which is largely made up of troops from Uganda, Ethiopia, Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya and Sierra Leone.
The raids on the bases in the town of Yaq-bari-weyne in the Lower Shabelle region and the retaking of Janale town after African forces quit, are the latest gains in an offensive by the group this month.
However, both AMISOM and Somali forces termed the move a tactical retreat and vowed to retake the town later.
Speaking to Reuters news agency, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud acknowledged that al-Shabab has retaken some villages but said they are not “strategic places and important”.
Somali militant group al-Shabaab took control of a key district in southeastern Somalia after African Union troops withdraw due to undisclosed reasons, a Somali government official has confirmed.
Osman Abdullahi, a military officer, told Reuters seven soldiers were killed and five others wounded.
“We were busy paying soldiers when we heard a powerful explosion inside the camp”.
Other witnesses said some people were wounded amid heavy shooting in the confusion following the explosion.
Advertisement
Al-Qaeda linked group, which is battling to topple Somalia’s Western-backed government, claimed responsibility for the attack.
