Hiiraan Online
Saturday, February 6, 2016
MOGADISHU (HOL) – Despite an assertion by the African Union force in Somalia that its troops are still in control of Marka town, residents confirmed that the Al-Qaeda linked Al Shabab group’s fighters are still holding the town for the first time in almost two and half years.
Militants recaptured the town after Somali and African Union forces have withdrawn to the nearby El-Jaale village on Friday morning.
Pro-Al Shabab media showed images of masked fighters walking through the town, inspecting the administrative headquarters and army bases abandoned by the African Union and Somali troops.
The fighters also raised their flag over the town’s headquarters.
However, the African Union force in Somalia denied its troops lost the control of the town, saying that troops would ‘adjust’ their positions for ‘tactical’ purposes to guarantee defeat of terrorists.
“Contrary to propaganda by enemies of Somalia, AMISOM is still in control of Marka,” the force said in a short comment posted on Twitter after the town fell into militants’ hands.
“AMISOM continuously reviews troop positions to ensure effective execution of our mandate.” It said.
According to residents in Marka town, masked Al Shabab commanders addressed a crowd after Friday prayers, declaring the renovation an ‘Islamic administration’.
The capture of Marka by Al Shabab is the most significant military gains by the group since allied forces ousted them from the capital and surrounding regions.
The development also served as a significant setback to efforts by Somali government to extend its rule across the country. Somali prime minister vowed his government would oust militants from the country ‘completely’ before the presidential elections due in 2016.
The loss of Marka town affirmed the soaring capabilities of Al Shabab which lost most of its key strongholds to the allied forces before the group started audacious and complex attack on military bases during which militants overrun three African Union military bases killing scores of soldiers, forcing troops to abandon several towns and villages.