By Lucy Adautin
Al Shabaab militants launched an attack on a central Somali town on Wednesday, according to local residents. The town has served as a key base for government forces pushing back against the insurgents, who have made notable gains in recent weeks.
The al Qaeda-linked group recently advanced to within 50 kilometres (30 miles) of Mogadishu, briefly seizing several villages. This proximity to the capital has stirred anxiety among residents, amid growing speculation that the city itself could become a target.
Although the army has since retaken those villages, al Shabaab has maintained its push through rural areas. In response, the government has enlisted police officers and prison guards to bolster military efforts, according to soldiers on the ground.
The targeted town, Adan Yabaal, is located roughly 245 kilometres north of Mogadishu and has been a key launch point for operations against al Shabaab. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who is originally from the region, visited the town last month to confer with military leaders and discuss reinforcing their position.
“After early morning prayers, we heard a deafening explosion, then gunfire,” said Fatuma Nur, a mother of four, speaking to a reporter by phone from Adan Yabaal. “Al Shabaab attacked us from two directions. I’m indoors, and fighting is still ongoing.”
Conflicting reports emerged regarding the outcome of the battle. Captain Hussein Olow, a military officer in Adan Yabaal, told Reuters that government troops had repelled the attackers.
However, in a statement, al Shabaab claimed it had overrun ten military posts and seized control of the town. National government officials have yet to comment on the incident.
The clash unfolds amid growing uncertainty over the future of international security assistance to Somalia. A newly formed African Union peacekeeping mission replaced a larger force earlier this year, but its funding remains in question, particularly as the United States opposes a shift to United Nations financing.
