Friday October 29, 2021
Guriel (HOL) - The leader of Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a Sheikh, Mohamed Shakir Ali Hassan, spoke for the first time since his group evacuated Guriel district after four days of fighting between his forces and government troops.
Sheikh Shakir said they left Guriel at the request of the city's businessmen, clerics, senators, Galmudug politicians, and various sections of the community in the region.
"I want to tell the Somali people that we welcomed the calls for peace and dialogue from religious leaders, the business community, politicians, the international community and the Council of Presidential Candidates.
Shakir said that he was saddened to learn that the federal government had sent weapons and troops from Mogadishu to destroy vital infrastructure in Guriel.
Residents say that two hospitals were badly damaged during the fighting.
Shakir's comments come as Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Kariye (Qoorqoor) arrived in Guriel on Thursday afternoon. Galmudug fighters retook the town from ASWJ on Saturday.
Over 120 fighters died during four days of intense fighting between ASWJ and Galmudug regional security forces backed by federal troops.
The Galmudug president met with officials from his regional administration, local elders and businessmen to discuss security in Guri El and the repatriation of the estimated 100,000 people displaced from the fighting.