Somalia: Al-Shabaab retakes key town from African Union troops

Soldiers belonging to the Burundian contingent of the African Union Mission prepare to march on the Al-Shabab held town of Ragaele, Somalia on 30 September 2014 [AMISOM]

Al-Shabaab fighters regained control of a key town in southern Somalia today, Garowe Online reported.

Just hours after African Union (AU) troops left Rasadaay, located 179 kilometres southwest of the capital Mogadishu, Al-Shabaab’s caravan of fighters moved in without any battle.

It is unclear why AU troops withdrew from the strategic town.

It is feared that Al-Shabaab’s control of Rasaaday may allow for attacks to take placeagainst AU troops in neighbouring Barawe and Mogadishu.

Al-Shabaab conducted a suicide operation on a hotel in Mogadishu last weekend, killing 29 people.

The Al-Qaeda-linked group seeks to dislodge the Government of Somalia and apply a strict interpretation of Islamic law across the country.

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