The Somali army regains control of the strategic areas in the Medio Scebeli region

According to a spokesman for the Hirshabelle state, Abdiweli Muhamed Abdi, the Somali National Army, supported by troops of the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), has regained control of several areas "Strategic" in the Middle Scebeli region, on the border with the Hiran region, snatching them from the jihadist militias of al-Shbaab.

Abdi has specified that the reconquest has happened without meeting any resistance from al Shabaab who in turn has claimed responsibility for the killing of an unspecified number of soldiers of Ethiopia and Djibouti in a series of attacks conducted at the border between the cities of Baldwin and Helgan, also in the Hiran region.

Albeit weakened by the offensive of the Somali army and the troops of the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), Shabaab continues to control large areas of Somalia. This is another reason why the UN Security Council decided to postpone the deadline for the Amisom quota reduction to February 2019, arguing that the Somali security forces are not yet sufficiently prepared to guarantee security in the country.

The Somali army regains control of the strategic areas in the Medio Scebeli region