GURIEL (Halbeeg News) – Hundreds of Ahlu Sunna fighters have today vacated Guriel town of central Somalia following four days of fierce fighting with Somali government forces.
The last Saturday fighting which continued into the next three days has claimed the lives of more than 120 people including combatants and wounded over 400 others.
According to multiple sources, the withdrawal of Ahlu Sunna forces from Guriel district came after local businessmen and politicians facilitated talks to secure a safe passage for the group.
The group surrendered and vacated the Gowd-Wiil area on the north-east of the town of Guriel leaving their strongholds in the northern part of the city within the university area.
The group left behind two military vehicles belonging to government forces which were captured during last month’s clashes in Bohol.
Ahlu Sunna group released a statement Tuesday saying it welcomed the calls for peace from all quarters and also said it recognizes the existence of the Galmudug State.
The development comes hours after Galmudug president Ahmed Abdi Kariye Qoorqoor blamed Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a (ASWJ) for the deadly fighting that has broken out in Guriel over the weekend.
Galmudug President defended the move to deploy a military offensive against Ahlu Sunna Waljaama, noting all diplomatic options were exhausted before the decisive action.
Qoorqoor said his government reached out to ASWJ as it squatted in Guriel for 22 days for talks but was forced to send the military to Guriel.
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