Hiiraan Online
Sunday, June 7, 2015
MOGADISHU (HOL) ----Fighters from the Moderate Sufi militia drove Somalia’s government troops from a key town in central Somalia on Tuesday after hours of battle that saw troops being expelled under the hell of fire, forcing them to withdraw back to a nearby town, official said.
The seizure of Dhusamareb by the Ahlu-Sunna Waljamaca fighters is a big blow to the Somali government is trying to extend its control beyond the capital and surrounding regions.
Last month, Somalia’s president has declared the town as the regional capital of a Central State, a regional administration which is expected to control the Galgadud region and its surrounding areas.
Residents in the town told HOL that heavily armed Sufi fighters have launched a large-scale dawn attack on army positions, and stormed administrative centers.
At least nine people were reported to have been killed in the clashes as the town’s only hospital is reportedly overwhelmed with causalities.
Somali troops have peacefully taken control of the town one year ago after a peace deal with the Sufi militia. Under the deal, the two sides agreed to merge the two armies.
Ahlu-Sunna officials have since accused Somali government of violating the deal and failed to meet up to its expectations before they launched the surprise attack to recapture the town.
Military officials told HOL that troops have drawn back to Adado town which is hosting a conference for the formation of the region’s administration.
No comment could be reached from Somali government on the development which a worrying alarm for the Mogadishu-based government which is struggling to contain a deadly guerilla insurgency by the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabab group.
Ahlu-Sunna militia have seized Dhusomareb and the neighboring town of Guriel from Al-Shabab four years ago after months of fighting with the feared militant group which is fighting the Somali government and the African Union forces protecting the weak government.
The group has since defended both towns against repeated counter attack by Al-Shabab to recapture the town.