Somalia | At least 20 dead as Al-Shabaab steps up its actions

Defence Redefined

Published on 25/01/2021 at 09:11

At least 20 people have been killed in central Somalia in fierce combat between armed civilians and the Shebab jihadist group since Sunday afternoon, officials said.

At least 13 jihadists and seven civilians, including non-combatants, were killed in clashes in the Ba’adin and Amara districts in the Mudug region, said Ahmed Moalin Fiqi, a local government minister in charge of security issues in Galmudug.

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The fighting broke out yesterday afternoon and continued until night, with heavy losses on both sides. “The terrorists wanted to occupy Baden and nearby villages, but residents, who have been fighting against them since last year, prevented them from taking these areas,” the state minister said. “Somali soldiers took part in the fighting, in which 13 extremists were killed and dozens more were injured,” he added.

In addition to all 7 casualties among the civilians, the minister declined to specify if and how many casualties were suffered by the army. Shebab, who swears allegiance to al-Qaeda, claimed on its Andalus radio station that its fighters had killed at least ten soldiers.

The group, which has frequently launched attacks on military bases, government buildings and facilities, hotels and civilians, has been stepping up its recent offensive against Somali and African Union forces, particularly in the south and central part of the country prior to the elections.

In the capital Mogadishu alone, 14 people have been killed in Shebab in the past 48 hours. Jihadists carried out bombings and targeted killings, targeting mainly civil servants and soldiers, the police said. More security measures have been taken in the capital after the attacks.

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