Al-Shabaab takes control of strategic town in north of Somali capital - Risingsuntv

Mogadishu – Somalia militant group, Al-Shabaab, on
Friday captured the strategic Balad town, about 30 km
north of Mogadishu, the Somali capital, in the latest mid-
morning attack, officials said.


Al-Shabaab
A regional member of State Parliament Abdukadir Osman
Abdisalan confirmed the attack at Balad town by the
militants who also attacked the police station with
explosions.












“The fighting is going on at the moment between
government troops and al-Shabaab fighters.
“We will update you later,” Abdisalan told Xinhua.













The Horn of Africa country has been at war since 1991,
when clan-based warlords overthrew dictator Siad Barre
and then turned against each other.
For a decade, the weak UN-backed government has been
fighting alongside African Union troops against al
Shabaab, which aims to impose its own strict
interpretation of Islam. (Xinhua/NAN)