Over 30 people killed in Al-Shabaab's clash with villagers in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - At least 30 people were killed on Friday after a clash between Al-Shabaab militants and villagers, reports indicate, with the fighting said to have lasted for over five hours, in the ever fragile town of Ba’adweyne central Somalia, which has often been struggling with the heavy presence of the militants.

The angry villagers are said to have picked up weapons and descended on the militants, leading to a fierce fight that lasted for several hours. At the site, 12 bodies of fighters from either side were sighted according to multiple eyewitnesses who spoke to Garowe Online on phone.

But the latest reports indicate that at least 14 villagers were killed by the Al-Shabaab militants with almost 30 militants also dying after the attack. Bodies of the victims were left scattered in the village, as militants took off after sensing huge defeat in the battle, the first of its kind in the region.

According to reports, villagers resisted attempts to push them to handover weapons and young boys to the Al-Shabaab. This, reports indicate, forced residents to stand up and defend their village from the Al-Shabaab infiltration, which has caused havoc across East Africa.

The group usually gets weapons from financiers mainly from outside the country. More often than not, they descend on villages and demand for recruitment of young boys to the group, something which usually comes with resistance, as residents try to repulse such attempts.

Al-Shabaab has been losing grounds across the country and the latest setback is one of the strongest indications that they can be defeated. Recently, reports emerged that group leader Ahmed Omar Diriye is struggling with his health and is said to have temporarily handed over to his deputy Aden.

Further, some reports indicate that the Al-Shabaab leader is also at loggerheads with Amniyat commander Mahad Karate with the two wrangling over finances. Early this year, Diriye is said to have suspended Mahad, a move which was met by resistance from a section of fighters.

Earlier on Thursday, Al-Shabaab attack on Sabiid and Anole villages near Afgoye was repulsed, Somali military officials told state media. Army officials hinted they had prior information about the attack from militants, leading to the successful operations against the militants.

On 23rd May 2012, AMISOM tanks advanced forward as the battle group crossed bushlands west of Deynile towards the Afgoye Corridor, north-west of Mogadishu. This was for a major joint offensive with the SNA to liberate Afgoye town from the Al- Shabaab.

The group has substantially lost grip in central and southern Somalia due to ongoing offensive against them. The Somali National Army [SNA], African Union Mission troops in Somalia, and the US Africa Command have been leading operations against the militants in recent weeks.

GAROWE ONLINE