MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Somali forces backed by local fighters today recaptured Harardhere town in central Somalia.
In a Twitter, Somali defence minister, Abdikadir Mohamed Nur said the government forces seized the town with resistance. Al-Shabaab fighters reportedly vacated the town on Sunday after the group received reports of the attack on the town by the Somali forces.
The Somali government reported on Monday that government forces have captured two towns previously controlled by al-Shabaab in the central Galmudug State.
“Today, it’s a big day for the Somali people, it’s a victory for the Somalis,” Nur said. “We have succeeded in taking control of Harardhere.”
Harardhere is a key coastal town and a former pirate hub. It was the biggest and most strategic town in Galmudug that was still in the hands of al-Shabab until Monday.
Nur accused al-Shabaab of “displacing” the civilians from the town before government troops arrived, saying Harardhere is largely empty and business places are closed.
The capture of Galcad, about 491 kilometres north of Mogadishu.
Somali forces and local militias in central Somalia have recently intensified operations against al_Shabaab fighters.
According to Somali prime minister, Hamze Abdi Barre, the allied forces killed more than 2,000 al-Shabaab fighters since last July when the operations against al-Shabaab fighters commenced in south-central Somalia.
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