... al-Qaeda's tentacle in East Africa...intensified attacks within central and southern regions, leading to a sharp response from the federal troops with assistance from the US military and the African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
forces, setting a unique trend within the same period.
Previously, the al-Shabaab waged sporadic attacks targeting security personnel, government officials, and installations, not forgetting innocent civilians.
It is, sadly, so easy to forget those myriads of innocent civilians.
The attacks were not as frequent as in the recent weeks, where they have suffered setbacks in the process. Details revealed by security officials and locals indicate that the group has been desperate to open supply routes in Middle Shabelle and Hiiraan regions — where the activities have been intense, leading to the most recent
In January, the murderous Moslems faced off with the government troops and local militias within Beera Yabaal twice, leading to massive casualties on their part. Security officials believe the group failed in its attempt to open the supply routes within the region.
After the failure in the Hiran region, the murderous Moslems crossed from a makeshift bridge built near the village of Oobaale, turned east, passed north of the Mahaday district, and sent lots of fighters into the Middle Shabelle region.
Good lord, it sounds as if they physically boxed the compass.
During this time, another group of Al-Shabaab fighters passed through Yaaqle as the other group of fighters entertained the AU and Somali forces in Bal’ad town with an attack, thought to have been a decoy on Feb 26.Entertained? Someone has been doing those one word a day calendars.
Besides the attempts to open the supply routes, the militants are also believed to have instigated attacks within central Somalia with the main aim being freeing themselves from Mudug and Galgadud region where several fighters were besieged. These militants reached the outskirts of the main town of Adan Yabaal which is now besieged after three years in a limbo within Mudug and Galgadud. The group has been fighting to free itself from the siege.
Consequently, the fighters have forced government forces to pull back from several villages including Al-Kawthar, Daru Nicma, Ceel Cali Axmed, Boos Hareeri, Ceel Baraf, Biyo Cadde and Mirtaqwo. The militants fired mortars on Adan Yabaal but government troops are holding on.
Last week, the Al-Shabaab detonated a bomb within Mogadishu targeting President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud — the fighting attempt on his life in as many years.
I think the reporter meant first rather than fighting…
Following this, the group initiated offensives in Southwest and central regions with the groups linking for the first time within Gullane. To assist those stuck in Galgadud and Mudug for the last three years, the Al-Shabaab is now in the process of moving fighters into Galmudud with the team expected to move southwards once the operation is successful.
The Al-Shabaab attack on Masaajid Cali Gaduud on March 26 poses another risk for the government forces. It could put pressure on government soldiers in Masagaway and Ceel Dheer who will now have to fight to secure the coastal supply route from Mogadishu-Cadale-Nur Dugle to Galmudug, veteran journalist and security expert Harun Maruf argues.
With large mobilizations taking place in Middle Shabelle and Hiran region spearheaded by Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the government wants to turn the tide, he says. There have been increased airstrikes against al-Shabaab. Ethiopian fighter jets, drones by Turkey, and the US, and helicopters have been active.
As a strategy to make the government engage more soldiers, the militants have again opened another frontline in Lower Shabelle, leading to a major attack within Awdhegle town.
This is widely believed to have been an offset attack
…the internet seems to think this is a gamer thing in hand to hand combat, but I assume before there were gamers it was a properly military thing, presumably a unit maneuvre…
but it gave Al-Shabaab another strategic advantage - it now controls one of the bridges that are vital to keeping Mogadishu safe from VBIEDs, which is a big security concern.Within Mogadishu, Al-Shabaab deployed fighters who were keeping an eye on possible reinforcements from the capital. The militants have, however, been intruding on this area from Basra (north of Mogadishu) and Gendershe area (southwest of Mogadishu) for years.
But to portray this as a fresh “advance” towards Mogadishu is premature. The government has on the other hand intensified attacks on Al-Shabaab on several frontlines, leading to unimaginable gains according to security forces.
... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...
... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...
... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord...
... an Islamic infestation centering on Somalia attempting to metastasize into Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and similar places, all ofwhich have enough problems without them...
...
...Republic of Somaliland is an unrecognised sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, recognised internationally as a de jure part of Somalia. It is located in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden with approximately 5.7 million residents as of 2021. The capital and largest city is Hargeisa. The government regards itself as the successor state to British Somaliland, which united from 1960 to 1991 with the Trust Territory of Somaliland (the former Italian Somaliland) to form the Somali Republic. Under the Siad Barre regime, Somaliadestroyed ninety percent of Hargeisa Per international law, once you're in, you gotta stay in, no matter how bad it smells....
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... the personification of Somali state failure...