Somalia and AU troops recapture Janaale town from Al-Shabaab

Somali forces and the African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have recaptured the southern town of Janaale, residents said on Monday.

Resident of the town said the town fell after troops “rolled in without much resistance” from Al-Shabaab militants, who had controlled the city for months.

“Units from Somali National Army and those of AMISOM with armoured vehicles took full control of the town of Barawe,” said one resident who decline his name.

It said the joint forces set up bases in and around the coastal port town and carried out searches to strengthen security in the city.

Reliable source say there was no fighting as the militants fled from the town before the advancing troops entered it.

On September last Year (2015) Al-Shabab fighters in Somalia have killed “scores” of African Union troops in an attack on their military base in Janaale town.

A week after the attack on AMISOM soldiers, Al-Shabaab released a video of the attack on the AMISOM base in Janaale, in which more than 50 Ugandan soldiers were killed by the group’s fighters.

On 18th September 2015 AMISOM vacated the town and the militant group Al-Shabaab wrested control of the town.

Al-Shabab aims to overthrow Somalia’s central government and establish a state based on its interpretation of Islamic law.