Qoryooley (Halbeeg News) – Al-Shabaab fighters have been accused of diverting water from River Shabelle to villages under Qoryooley district leading displacement of hundreds of families.
The local authorities in Qoryooley district said the fighters of loyal Al-Shabaab diverted water from the river to flood the areas, compelling the local residents to flee their homes.
Qoryooley mayor, Siyad Ali Ibrahim Hassan who spoke to BBC Somali Service said the villages have been inundated with heavy floods after the group formed man-made tributaries.
“We are in planting season, People were doing farming when Al-Shabaab diverted the flow of the river water, this is not the normal floods which occurred naturally but it is one that came as a result of the action of Al-Shabaab,” Mr. Hassan said.
The allegations levelled against Al-Shabaab comes amid Somali forces troops backed by AMISOM forces intensified operations against the group in Lower Shabelle region.
It is not the first time Al-Shabaab fighters were accused of diverting water from a river.
In June, the group reportedly diverted the water from River Jubba forcing many families to flee from the villages along the river.
Days later heavily armed Al-Shabaab fighters stormed the base housing a combined force of Somalis, Kenyans, and Americans.
The raid which prompted fierce fighting that lasted for hour claimed lives dozens of combatants from both sides.
Among those killed the raid was an American soldier who was fighting alongside Somali and Kenyan forces.
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