...... Somalia's version of the Taliban...Arabic for
students...
, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...
gunnies have taken briefly the control of Bal'ad town in the northwest of Somalia, in the latest showdown which comes amid escalating political tensions in the Horn of Africa nation, which is battling with instability.
Reports indicate that the gunnies stormed the town which is 37 kilometers north of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia on Thursday morning, further controlling the town, which is strategic for the military within the surrounding vicinity.
The gunnies launched a series of attacks in the town before taking full control, eyewitnesses said. However,
some people cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go...
the number of casualties is yet to be determined but the town is found in Hirshabelle, a state prone to such attacks.
But latest reports indicate the Somali National Army [SNA] have since repelled al-Shabaab's temporary seizure of Bal'ad town in Somalia. The soldiers are said to have opened fire to resist the seizure before succeeding to chase the gunnies out of the town.
Further, military sources claim at least three al-Shabaab bad boyz were potted when the army resisted the take over of the town. Throughout the fight against al-Shabaab in Somalia, the military has often used Bal'ad as a strategic town while launching operations.
The incident comes after a report compiled by Financial Times reported that the current political impasse in Somalia has triggered a resurgence of al-Shabaab hard boyz in the country. According to the report, the gunnies are taking advantage.
Currently, outgoing President Mohammed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Prime Minister Mohammed Hussein Roble have been tussling over the control of security and electoral exercise. Roble insists he's the leader of a transition and should be accorded respect.
At least four people were killed on Thursday when fighters from the Al-Shabaab jihadist group raided a town near Somalia's capital Mogadishu, police said.
The attackers, armed with machine guns, raided the town of Balcad, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) north of Mogadishu, police and witnesses said.
"The terrorists attacked Balcad early this morning targeting government security checkpoints," police officer Abdullahi Mohamed told AFP by phone.
"The situation returned to normal now and the government forces are in full control."