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 29people.
The Al-Qaeda-linked group seeks to dislodge the Government of Somalia and apply a strict interpretation of Islamic law across the country.
