https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/32981749/shabaab-takes-somali-town-after-ethiopia-troop-pullout/#page1
Shabaab 'takes Somali town' after Ethiopia troop pullout
AFP on October 23, 2016, 8:26 pm
Mogadishu (AFP) - Fighters from the Al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab group said
Sunday they had retaken control of a town in central Somalia after
hundreds of Ethiopian troops serving with the African Union's AMISOM
force withdrew.
It was the third time this month that the Islamist group moved into a
town in the region after the departure of Ethiopian forces.
Al-Shabaab said on the smartphone app Telegram that their fighters had
"stormed the town (of Halgan) soon after the enemy pulled out" on
Sunday.
"The brave fighters of Islam have taken full control of the town, the
Islamic flag is waving over the station and the district
headquarters," the statement added.
After leaving Halgan together with Somali army soldiers, situated at a
key junction on the road to the capital Mogadishu, the Ethiopian
troops headed towards the provincial capital, Beledweyne, according to
several sources.
"The Ethiopian soldiers pulled out of Halgan town this (Sunday)
morning. We are getting (reports) that they have destroyed their bases
and trenches around the town before heading for Beledweyne," said
Mohamed Nur Adan, a security official in Beledweyne.
"The Ethiopian soldiers vacated their bases this morning, we saw them
heading towards Beledweyne. There were tanks and big trucks in their
convoy," witness Osman Adan told AFP by phone.
Halgan, situated about 70 kilometres (40 miles) from Beledweyne, came
under assault from the Al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab in June.
The Islamists then attacked the Ethiopian army base with a suicide car
bomber and gunmen. Scores were reported killed on both sides, however
casualty numbers are impossible to verify.
The fall of Halgan is likely to increase pressure and attacks on
AMISOM forces in Buloburde, which is the second largest town in the
central Hiran region.
Earlier this month hundreds of Ethiopian troops pulled out of El-Ali
-- also in the Hiran region -- after also withdrawing from nearby
Moqokori.
Shabaab forces moved back in to both towns after the Ethiopians left.
No explanation has been given by the Ethiopian military or AMISOM.
The Shabaab was forced out of the capital, Mogadishu, five years ago
but continues to carry out regular attacks on military, government and
civilian targets in its battle to overthrow the internationally-backed
administration.
Received on Sun Oct 23 2016 - 10:41:01 EDT