African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM) and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) troops have today reached new areas of the eastern part of the Somali capital taking control of Mohamud Ahmed Ali School, Siisii village, Ex-lujino Stadium, and East Police Station in Mogadishu after al-Shabaab militants fled the area in recent days.
The government forces repeatedly attempted to enter those areas over the last six days, but were met with resistance from youth supporting al-Shabaab.
Colonel Mohamed Mohamud Sanney, a TFG military officer, told Somalia Report that their troops are completely in control of the eastern and northern part of the capital and are now moving to secure more districts.
“Today we have cleaned eastern villages of the capital from elements of al-Shabaab and now we are heading to Huriwa and parts of Yaqshid,” said the colonel.
Witness told Somalia Report that they heard gunfire in between Sana junction and Hotel Ramadan, and that some al-Shabaab fighters are in that area, possibly part of the militants’ plan to conduct hit and run operations by leaving hidden fighters behind.
“Al-Shabaab supporters are still in parts of Sana and Hotel Ramadan area and are trying to fight against AMISOM and TFG forces,” said the resident. “I don’t think they can fight against the alliance since they don’t have enough weapons or fighters.”
After more than two years of severe restrictions imposed by al-Shabaab, people and vehicles are returning to the northern and eastern parts of the city, including displaced families returning to their homes.
AMISOM in Daynile
Somali government forces have also reached parts of Daynile district of Mogadishu to root out fighters still in the area.
Residents near the former HornAfrik radio station in Gubta village of Daynile said they saw hundreds of heavily armed government soldiers and AU troops walking in the streets as the troops were advancing throughout the district.
“We also saw a few al-Shabaab fighters escaping as they ran toward the Elasha Biya side. Some of them were carrying AK-47 rifles and pistols and they were talking to each other,” a resident who asked be called Farah told Somalia Report.
Another Daynile resident who asked not be named told our correspondent that al-Shabaab fighters who remained in their village were conducting hit and run attacks at night on the AMISOM and TFG bases near the Wadada Warshadaha or at the industrial road.
