Al Shabaab militants pull out of key positions in Mogadishu rout

Somalia’s Islamist al Shabaab rebels pulled out of key positions in the war-torn and famine-struck capital Saturday, with the country’s president proclaiming the city “fully liberated.”

“Mogadishu has been fully liberated from the enemy, and the rest of the country will soon be liberated too,” Sharif Sheikh Ahmed told reporters.

The al-Qaeda affiliated al Shabaab insurgents abandoned several strategic positions overnight that were then taken over by government troops.

“We are very happy — the fruits of bloodshed and the wars that we fought against the rebels are finally attained,” Ahmed said.

The significant development occurred after clashes late on Friday and early Saturday between the militia and government forces and their allies.

Ahlu Sunna wal-Jamea, a moderate Islamist group, and the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) were instrumental in the rout.

Strategic location

Key positions lost by the rebels include the rebels’ main base in the city, Mogadishu Stadium, and Warshadda Baastada (a former pasta factory), a strategic location used by the insurgents to control the capital’s northern districts.

Most of the confrontation took place at Bondhere, Howl-wadaag and Wardhigley districts. Pro-government forces moved in from different directions forcing the al Shabaab fighters to dramatically abandon Mogadishu in hundreds of vehicles.

“The clashes were very intense and all sorts of light and heavy weapons were employed,” a resident in Yakshid, who asked not to be named, said.

“Before dawn, we saw many vehicles with all kinds of belongings heading towards the northern outskirts of Mogadishu,” added the eyewitness.

Some of the last positions vacated included Tawfik and Huriwa districts and the strategic Suuqa Xoolaha, the main trading centre in northern Mogadishu.

Most of the retreating fighters headed towards Lower Shabelle and Middle Shabelle regions, respectively south and north of Mogadishu.

The al-Shabaab fighters had provoked the latest fighting by waging widespread attacks on pro-government forces.

Spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamoud Raghe alias Sheikh Ali Dhere, told al-Shabaab supporters via Al-Andalus, a radio station run by the movement, that the group was changing war tactics.

Wage more attacks

“We are going to operate from the upcountry regions, vowing to come back to wage more attacks on the Transitional Federal Government and on Amisom,” he said.

The Sheikh asserted that American and French fighters had joined the latest war against al-Shabaab.