DHUSAMAREB, Somalia – Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants have renewed efforts to recapture the historic city of Dhusamareb, the regional administrative capital of Galmadug, top officials said after the recent failed raid in the eastern part of the city, which was met by opposition from government forces. .
In the last few months, the Somali National Army has [SNA]AU mission troops and the US-African Command have been fighting to remove the militants from central and southern Somalia, which have long been under the authoritarian rule of the Al-Qaeda-linked group.
In the process, the government has managed to reclaim several cities in Somalia, including the recent recapture of the strategic Janaale city. The agricultural city was one of Al-Shabaab’s main sources of revenue, and its capture was an important milestone for the security forces.
But in Dhusamareb, government officials said, the militants have been invading from various strategic points and further causing anxiety. The situation has been exacerbated by the presence of the ASWJ militia, a moderate Sufi group that has since fallen out with government forces.
Earlier this year, the ASWJ group collided with the Somali National Army in an incident that left over 20 civilians dead in Dhusamareb. The two sides were reconciled, albeit briefly, and their relationship has been described as “frost” ever since the deadly meeting in Dhusamareb.
On Monday, the SNA reported renewed clashes with Al-Shabaab on the outskirts of the city, further jeopardizing the region’s security. At least 18 militants were killed on the spot, according to security forces, but there was no immediate comment on government losses.
The clashes took place near Bula’le in the eastern part of Dhusamareb. According to officials, the militants are eager to regain the city, which they lost a few years ago to government troops and which was also their source of income, maintaining their unscrupulous activities across the country.
Dhusamareb was recently renamed Samaeeb by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo after three election conferences aimed at resolving stalemates before the elections in Somalia. Recently, Regional President Ahmed Abdi Kariye praised for constructing the conferences.
Al-Shabaab militants are fighting to overthrow the fragile UN-backed Somalia government, but their efforts have been significantly impaired by the SNA and their allies. Reports show, however, that the group can still lead small to large sporadic attacks throughout East Africa despite their dwindling influence.
“These threats to the supply chain require immediate response. Al-Shabaab’s IED attacks have claimed more than 5,000 lives and about 2,177 deaths between 2017 and 2019. They have risen in mortality as more commercial forerunners enter the group’s IED production pipeline, making every single attack more deadly and deadly, “said Peter Kirechu, a security expert.
“Therefore, there is an urgent need for significant changes to the current UN embargo framework on Somalia to improve the monitoring of dangerous commercial chemical precursors and strengthen the international community’s ability to impose sanctions (including sanctions and trade restrictions) on commercial importers who: repeatedly fails to exercise due to relocation procedures. ”
Recent reports also indicate that the group is struggling with internal quarrels that have sharply divided top management. In addition to Dhusamareb and Janaale, security forces have also managed to secure strategic cities such as Kismayo, Dhobley, Afmadow and many more throughout Somalia, which have now been taken back by civilians.
AXADLETM
