Al-Shabaab reportedly ends Baidoa blockade, gov’t denies deal

GOOBJOOG NEWS|BAIDOA: The militant group Al-Shabaab has ended the near two-week-long blockade of Baidoa following reports of negotiations with local traders.

Sources in Baidoa say the group released trucks to access the town Friday evening after blocking them since July 11.

Sources noted that a group of traders had opened channels of negotiations with Al-Shabaab to allow the movement of goods following an escalating crisis in the town as prices shot up amid an already fragile humanitarian situation.

However, a spokesman for South West state denied there were any talks with AlShabaab over the blockade. Sources say the government was planning an operation at Mooda-Moode, where the militants are reported to have erected barriers.