This week, Somalians received news of the deaths of more than 61 Al-Shabaab militants and foreign nationals. The national army of Somalia made the announcement after they carried out an attack on a warehouse the militants were hiding.
Warehouse blast kills 61 fighters
The fighters were inside a warehouse at Ala-Futow village, located some 285 kilometers from the capital Mogadishu. While in hiding a blast went off inside the house in Southern Somalia killing the Al-Shabaab militants. The report by the Somalian national army also indicated that the materials stored at the 11-room house exploded.
Amongst the 61 militants and six foreign nationals killed were some Al-Shabaab’s bomb experts. After the successful destruction of the house, the Somalian military conducted a swipe operation of the area. During the operation, soldiers managed to destroy Al-Shabaab equipment they use in carrying out attacks.
The beginning of the Al-Shabaab group
The Al-Shabaab in Somalia emerged from the youth wing of the Islamic Courts Union. The Union was formed after Somalia was plunged into chaos after the 1991 overthrowing of President Said Barre’s military regime. The chaos led to famine and decades of anarchic warfare.
Later on, Somalia got a chance to overturn its misfortunes with the decision to form a new internationally-backed government. But the Islamic Courts Union backed by Al-Shabaab fighters became rivals to the internationally-backed government of Somalia established in 2004. Back then, the Union controlled large parts of Somalia. But their reign was brief as in the second half of 2011 the group’s fortunes fell through the cracks. The African Union peacekeeping force AMISOM then pushed the group out of their last bastions in Mogadishu.
Since 2011 the Al-Shabaab have had to abandon many of the strongholds across Somalia. But the militant group still controls vast rural areas in the country. Their control of rural areas has let them maintain a presence in urban centers through an extensive intelligence network.
Al-Shabaab in Somalia remain Unstoppable
The Al-Shabaab group of this time has gone about launching attacks in the Horn of Africa nation. The attacks are aimed at enabling them to take control of Somalia once again. The group has launched many attacks even in Mogadishu in its mission to control what it once had control over. But Somalia has changed since the civil war in 1991. Just recently, the nation managed to form a new government with troops who have tried to stop the jihadists with the help of foreign forces.
But the Al-Shabaab still remain unstoppable as they control a large portion of Somalia. In their recent attempt to take control of Somalia, the group tried to start another civil war. The group intended to spark chaos using their attacks after President Mohamed refused to step down after his term ended.
Most of the officials in both Putland and Jubbaland said they didn’t recognize Mohamed as Somalia’s President. The Al-Shabaab looked to capitalize on such lack of unity and cause the Presidents rivals and non-supporters to carry out a coup. Such an occurrence would likely spark a war in Somalia and the Al-Shabaab would take control of the Nation.
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