简体中文
The Somali government and the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on Sunday retook southern coastal town of Barawe, residents and officials said.
The Somali government and AMISOM said the town fell after troops "rolled in without much resistance" from Al-Shabaab fighters who controlled the city for past several years.
"Units from Somali National Army and those of AMISOM with armored vehicles took full control of the town of Barawe," state radio Mogadishu reported.
It said the joint forces set up bases in and around the coastal port town and carried out searches to strengthen security of the city.
Residents said there was no fighting as the militants fled from the town before the advancing troops entered it. Barawe is reported to be calm and residents remain indoors shortly after the arrival of Somali government forces and AU peacekeepers.
Barawe, 220 kilometers southwest of the country's capital Mogadishu, is the last major coastal area under Al-Shabaab militants and served as the key revenue earner for the militants through taxation on local businesses and export of illegal charcoal.
AMISOM said retreating Al-Shabaab fighters launched an ambush on the troops, but was "immediately neutralized", paving way for the joint forces to take the town.
The retaking of Barawe is part of the major offensive dubbed Operation Indian Ocean which was launched in September and is aimed "to push the militants out of their bases along mainland Africa's longest coastline".
The fall of Barawe represents a major setback for the militants who have lately been on the back foot, as the Al Qaeda-linked group faced series of territorial losses to the Somali government troops and AMISOM peacekeepers.
Although the Islamist group lost key urban centers, it still controls swathes of rural hinterland in the south and centre of the horn of Africa nation. Enditem
