The Somali National army, supported by Ugandan units of AMISOM, on Monday (February 18th) captured the strategic airfield of Jowhar, located 100kms north east of Mogadishu. A Ugandan spokesman, Major Henry Obbo, said the airfield, 20 kms from Jowhar town, was taken over after minimal resistance from fleeing Al-Shabaab fighters.
Allied forces had no losses. The town of Jowhar was taken by Somali government forces and AMISOM in December. The Ugandan contingent commander, Brigadier Michael Ondoga, said Somali troops and AMISOM forces will continue to pressure the weakening Al-Shabaab until it completely disengages from terrorist activities, to provide a more conducive atmosphere to the Somali peace process.
The capture of Jowhar airfield will widen the Somali Government's area of control and provide better opportunities to ensure protection for large areas of Middle Shabelle region including the regional capitalof Jowhar. It will also improve opportunities for reconstruction in the transport sector and other infrastructure.
Balidoogle air base and KM-50 airfield which were recently captured from Al Shabaab have already begun to receive flights; plans are underway for the renovation of both. Four days before the capture of Jowhar airfield, Al-Shabaab was also pushed out of three towns in Lower Shabelle.
African Union forces and Somali government troops have captured the town of Jowhar from al-Shabab militants.
Witnesses said troops entered the town Sunday morning and briefly fought with militants before gaining control.
Several al-Shabab members have confirmed that their forces have pulled out of Jowhar.
The town is about 90 kilometers north of the capital, Mogadishu and is the regional capital of Middle Shabelle region. It has been under Islamist control since 2009.
The capture deals a blow to al-Shabab as the Somali government now controls large parts of the country's south, including the capital and the port city of Kismayo.
Somali government forces backed by African union forces have taken control of the key town ofJowharin middle Shabelle region, according to officials and eyewitnesses.
The joint forces of Amsiom and Somali army seized the town without a fight after fighters from the militant group of Al shabab deserted the town.
"Jowhar is liberated and its residents are not under oppression any longer" said a government security official.
Most of the residents in the town remain indoors, observing the transition of control with caution. Jowhar is located 90 kilometres south ofMogadishuand it was under the control of Al shabab since 2009.
Eyewitnesses say that fighters fled the town after government forces and African union forces came close to the town last night.
The fall of Jowhar is a big blow to Al shabab but a boost for the Somali government which now controls large parts of south Somalia after, with a help from African Union forces, pushed Al shabab from major cities and towns including Mogadishu, Kismayo and Baidoa.
Mogadishu, Somalia — 200 hundred Al Shabaab agents surrendered to African Union and Somali government forces on Sunday amid a chain of bombings and assassinations in Mogadishu, Garowe Online reports.
Spokesman for the African Union forces deployed in Somalia, Col. Ali Adan Hamud, said that the agents who surrendered were equipped with their weapons had decided to give up fighting for Al Shabaab and join government forces.
"These Al Shabaab agents renounced their allegiance with the terrorist group and decided to join the government forces.
"We are welcoming this decision by the militants and we are providing their security," continued Col. Hamud.
a video report from ALJAZEERA:
The spokesman also stated that reports that said the agents were actually civilians who were looking to join the battle in the Middle Shabelle region by surrendering to the allied forces were false.
"The 200 agents who surrendered included two Al Shabaab officials, we welcome anyone separating from Al Shabaab and we will protect them," said Col. Hamud.
Al Shabaab did not comment on the agents who split from the organization on Sunday.
The split by the 200 Al Shabaab agents follows a string of attacks by Al Shabaab in Mogadishu as a new Somali President was elected earlier this month.
Last Thursday Al Shabaab agents strapped with explosives attacked a restaurant in a Mogadishu killing14 people and shelled a residential neighborhood the night before.
On Saturday a member of the new federal parliament Mustafa Haji was gunned down after evening prayers near his home in Mogadishu.
Security analysts say that the recent insecurity in Mogadishu is due serious infiltration by Al Shabaab in Mogadishu even stemming all way to top security and military officials. from allAfrica/Garowe Online 23 September 2012
--- photos:
Defected members of Islamist militant group al Shabaab stand after
giving themselves up to the African Union AMISOM forces in Garsale,
approximately 10km from the town of Jowhar, 80km north of Mogadishu, in
this September 22, 2012 handout picture made available by the African
Union-United Nations Information Support Team on September 23, 2012.
Islamist rebels said they shot dead a Somali lawmaker in Mogadishu on
Saturday and threatened to kill every legislator in the country. The
African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) force said, however, there
were signs of deepening internal rifts within al Shabaab. More than 200
rebels defected near the town of Jowhar on Saturday, AMISOM said.
*******/AU-UN IST/Abukar Albadri/Handout
---
Defected members of Islamist militant group al Shabaab stand after
turning themselves in to the African Union AMISOM forces in Garsale,
approximately 10km from the town of Jowhar, 80km north of Mogadishu, in
this September 22, 2012 handout picture made available by the African
Union-United Nations Information Support Team on September 23, 2012.
Islamist rebels said they shot dead a Somali lawmaker in Mogadishu on
Saturday and threatened to kill every legislator in the country. The
African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) force said, however, there
were signs of deepening internal rifts within al Shabaab. More than 200
rebels defected near the town of Jowhar on Saturday, AMISOM said.
*******/AU-UN IST/Abukar Albadri/Handout
---
A senior commanding officer (front L) of the African Union Mission in
Somalia (AMISOM) shakes hands with a defected commander (front R) of
Islamist militant group al Shabaab after members gave themselves up to
AMISOM forces in Garsale, approximately 10km from the town of Jowhar,
80km north of Mogadishu, in this September 22, 2012 handout picture made
available by the African Union-United Nations Information Support Team
on September 23, 2012. Islamist rebels said they shot dead a Somali
lawmaker in Mogadishu on Saturday and threatened to kill every
legislator in the country. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)
force said, however, there were signs of deepening internal rifts
within al Shabaab. More than 200 rebels defected near the town of Jowhar
on Saturday, AMISOM said. *******/AU-UN IST/Abukar Albadri/Handout
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