Somalia’s main insurgents groups of Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam have reportedly captured the strategic central town of Beledweyne, the capital of Hiiraan region after battling out with pro-government militia Ahul Sunnah Wal Jama’a.
The clashes erupted on Friday morning in villages near the town with Hizbul Islam and Ahlu Sunnah engaging in heavy gun battle.
The battle in the villages have allowed Al-Shabaab fighters to attack the town and chase away the few remaining pro-government militia, who have since retreated to a El Gal village, located some 15 km from Beledweyne.
The clashes have since claimed the lives of at least five combatants from both sides, according to witnesses.
On the other hand, militias loyal to Hizbul Islam have reportedly looted The offices of the United Nations health agency WHO and Save the Children in Beledweyne.
According to witnesses, the incident happened shortly after the town’s take over with Hizbul Islam militia disarming the guards and chasing away the local agencies workers before looting the valuables in the offices.
"The armed militia entered the offices and took the equipments and weapons. We have also seen the workers, who were blindfolded, being evicted,” said an eyewitness who requested not to be named.
The looting of the aid agencies is seen as a new habit for insurgents because similar incidents targeted on UN offices were reported in rebel-held areas across the war-torn nation.
Al-Shabaab has banned several aid agencies from working in areas under its control with the UN food agency WFP being the latest casualty after being forced to halt its food distributions in the southern Somalia due to threats and extortion by Al-Shabaab.
The fighting in Beledweyne, which strategically connects the capital Mogadishu to central Somalia, comes barely two weeks after bloody battle between same armed groups which claimed the lives of hundreds and displaced thousands others
Source:garoweonline.com/
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