The Somalia Army Withdraws as Alshabab Takes Back Strategic Town

[CidanSultan]

Somali militants occupy key military base southwest of the country

Hiiraan Online

By Shafi’i Mohyaddin

Monday, April 21, 2014

 

Heavily armed fighters belonging to the Al-Qaeda-proxy Al-Shabab militants in Somalia have on Monday seized a key military base outside the city of Baidoa southwest of the country.

The militants occupied the 60-th military compound in the Daynuunay village about 20 kilometers from Baidoa along the road that leads to the capital Mogadishu.

Residents said that Al Shabab seized the base after the Somali military withdrew from the area and moved toward the town of Buur Hakaba. Al Shabab said they seized the compound peacefully.

According to some locals who were reached for comment by the media, the militants were advancing to the city of Baidoa which houses to controversial southwestern semiautonomous state.

In another development, eyewitnesses said that hundreds of militants entered Abu Asharow village which is only 5 kilometers from the region’s provincial capital of Baidoa.

Latest reports from the city indicate that regional authorities and AU officials have gathered in an emergency meeting to discuss on what reaction to do to prevent the militants from entering the city.

HOL is following up the situation and will report any developments from the region.

Email:islow@hiiraan.com

 

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Alshabaab strategy is to cut of main roads to big cities and cut of logistics of the African union troops and control the country side they basically go under ground this gives them time to re group re take control of smaller towns. They will never launch large scale attacks because that will ruin them. They have taken the strategy of Mullah Omar, Since Amiir Godane trained in Afghanistan with the Taliban he understands what type of tactics that can work. Since the Somali government and the international community has no real interest to develop proper intelligence and proper policing and the SFG bureaucrats are corrupt this gives the Alshabaab the time. Alshabaab strategy simple regroup re organize take smaller towns cut of the supply to major cities combined with homicide and car bombs in big cities.

[DoctorKenney]

Xaaji but this strategy can only do so much. Al Shabab can never control large swathes of Somalia's territory like they did in the past. They can never control the entire country and be Somalia's Government.

 

Whereas the Taliban in Afghanistan has a very real chance of becoming the Government of that country once the NATO troops start withdrawing. There have even been talks of negotiations between the two parties and it's a very possible scenario.

 

Al Shabab has no chance in governing Somalia.

 

You can't really compare our two countries. There's very little similarities even though the strategies of Godane and Mullah Omar might be similar.

[SomaliPhilosopher]

and now the Somali army has won it back. Now will you make a thread about that? I think not

[CidanSultan]

Both countries have weak governments, both countries have large foreign forces. Both countries have relentless insurgencies. Both countries have no chance of a stable future as independent countries.

[CidanSultan]

Somalia philosopher your more then welcome to... As soon as Alshabab take it back I will post that one. Amisom take back and lose it your bandits could not liberate a street.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

<cite>

@DoctorKenney

said:</cite>

Xaaji but this strategy can only do so much. Al Shabab can never control large swathes of Somalia's territory like they did in the past. They can never control the entire country and be Somalia's Government.

 

Whereas the Taliban in Afghanistan has a very real chance of becoming the Government of that country once the NATO troops start withdrawing. There have even been talks of negotiations between the two parties and it's a very possible scenario.

 

Al Shabab has no chance in governing Somalia.

 

You can't really compare our two countries. There's very little similarities even though the strategies of Godane and Mullah Omar might be similar.

 

 

Alshabaab have the odds against them but eventually they cannot be defeated and the SFG and the Amisom led governments need to sign some sort of agreement with them. The same way the Taliban and the United states are in constant talks even though there is no cease fire. I think Alshabaab has shot themselves in the foot when they made an alliance with Alqaeda nonetheless they still have some cards left similar like the Taliban to exhaust the Amisom troops the same the Taliban has exhausted the Isaf and NATO forces. Mullah omar in 2005 got rid of all the Alqaeda cell and the Arab jihadist and created a Pashtun Islamic front he reformed The Taliban he forced the Alqaeda forces to operate separately from the Taliban, and they went underground and terrorizing ISAF forces and they managed to still control large swats of Territory. Alshabaab is using the exact the same strategy to remain relevant in the war and their struggle against the AU troops.

 

 

[DoctorKenney]

Yeah exactly. Al Shabaab is in this for the long haul, and although they're not as crazy as the Taliban, they're still on that level of extremism.

 

Do you think in the future, if things keep going this way, Al Shabab might agree to come to the table with the Somali Government as long as 1. The country is rid of all foreigners and 2. The country is ruled by Shariah Law (but not their twisted version of Shariah, which is degenerate extremism and total injustice)

 

This could be a very real possibility as long as Godane is done away with, and there are some moderate elements within Al Shabab which could be reasoned with. Godane, however, is beyond negotiations and has to be done away with.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

I have already said before that it is possible Alshabaab cannot continue its war and the SFG cant keep on holding the country captive for African union countries some one has to break the stalemate , its obvious the SFG doesn't have the ability to fill the vacuum when cities and towns are liberated the cities remain unsafe and its security remains very fragile and homicide bombers can still penetrate it.

 

Alshabaab biggest reason for their Jihad is the Foreign forces and the lack of Sharia law ,both can reach a compromise on neutral ground with the right arbitrators a cease fire and the removal of African troops partly i think shabaab can be pursued to have such a deal even Godane and the other Hard liners.

 

Alshabaab and the SFG both hurt the Somali state and Somali in the long term if no peace deal is reached the AU troops will continue to enrich themselves, And Alshabaab will never be able to really defeat the AU troop they might even prolong the AU forces, cooler heads are needed in this conflict it can be done but not by the international community it has to come from Somalis. The international community is fine with the status quo.

[Dr_Osman]

Puntland will always stay among its ciidan, the days of being unarmed is over, if anything their always strong focus on getting bigger weapons. Gaas is now seeking to equip the darawish with more bigger and new arms

 

[Dr_Osman]

The policy of puntland will always be a strong well equipped ciidan to protect the 2.5 milyan people of puntland. The security of puntland is just getting bigger and more sophsicated as more threats loom for the state we always have the excuse to develop our ciidan