Addis Ababa (HAN) March 8th, 2014 – The Somalia Federal National troops backed by Ethiopian forces on Thursday captured the strategic town of Hudur, provincial capital of Bakol in south west of Somalia, regional government military officer said.
“The Islamist Al-Shabaab terrorist fighters have fled the area and retreated to the vicinity of Mogadishu,” The Dina Mufti, spokesperson of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Regional News Reporters. Atto Dina added that, Al-Shabaab fighters were also dealt another blow in their quest to capture Gulgudud, seat of the Federal Government (TFG) allied militia group of Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaah. Somali government has welcomed the retaking of the strategic town of Hudur. The regional district Mayor Mohamed Moallim Ahmed said on Radio Mogadishu that Somali and Ethiopian-AMISOM soldiers are carrying out door to door investigations in Hudur city. “These joint operations were carried out with due diligence and strict observance of International Human Rights standards in line with the trainings received by both Somalia National Army and AMISOM forces” added the AMISOM statemen, based In Mogadishu, Somalia.
“The capture of Hudur shows the determination of Somlia government to liberate the rest of the country from the grip of al-Qaeda linked al-Shabaab,” Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli told HAN & Geeska Afrika Online Reporter in Mogadishu.
The regional capital city, Hudur is the third major town to be captured by Somali troops backed by Ethiopian forces who entered Somalia in November last year to reinforce the fight against the al Shabaab. The group lost two previous keys towns of Baidoa in the south and Beledweyne in the central of Somalia and Ethiopian forces.
The Somalia militant group of Al-Shabaab has been losing territory to Somali government forces and forces from neighboring country following the retreat of the group’s fighters from the Somali capital Mogadishu, Somalia.
Under the United Nations Security mandate, Ethiopia and Kenyan forces have launched military offensive against Al-Shabaab militants in central and southern Somalia to restore law and order.
Kenya has offered to join more than 4,500 of its troops to be part of the UN authorized African Union peacekeeping troops (AMISOM) currently operating in Mogadishu.
HAN & Geeska Afrika Online (1985-2014), The oldest free indepedent Free Press in the region, brings together top journalists from across the Horn of Africa. Including Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, Djibouti, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Oromo, Amhara, Somali, Afar and Harari. Plus, we have daily translations from 150 major news organizations in the Middle East and East African regions.
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