Jubbaland forces recapture Tuulo-Barwaaqo

Reports from Lower Juba region in southern Somalia indicate that forces of Jubbaland dislodged Al-shabab fighters from Tuulo Barwaqo barely two days after the group seized the village on Wednesday.

Residents of the village, over 120 kms northwest of Kismayu, the capital of the Jubaland said that forces loyal to Jubbaland administration have taken over the control of the village.

A military commander in Dhobley town, Hassan Haybe told Goobjoog News that Jubbaland forces attacked the village and cleared Al-Shabab from the area.

They were handful Islamic State (IS) militants and were controlling the village for few hours…. We sent our soldiers there and they before the troops reached the area” said Haybe.

On Wednesday, fighters loyal to ISIS took the control of the village and replaced the Jubaland authority in the area.

The chief of Tuulo Barwaqo who represented the Jubaland administration and other officials had fled the area upon receiving a tip off that IS fighters were heading towards the village.

Newly declared IS is a split of Al-Shabaab who still largely remain loyal to Al-Qaeda.

Although reports indicate that the number of Al-Shabab militants declaring a shift of loyalty to IS is increasing, particularly in Jubaland and Lower Shabelle region, which is also in southern Somalia, the two Islamist groups appear to be using the same banner which has a black flag with Tawheed writing.