By Hafsa Mursal
At least 30 people were killed and more than 50 wounded on Saturday when a moderate Islamist group Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamacah clashed with Somali government troops over control of a town Guriceel, in central Somalia, according to witnesses and regional officials.
The confrontations started at early Saturday morning when government troops, who have been amassing on the outskirts of Guri-El, a central Somali town which is some 400 kilometers north of the capital, Mogadishu, attacked bases held by Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a rebels.
Galmudug state information minister Ahmed Shire Falagle confirmed casualties in the fighting.
“I can confirm that three of our soldiers were killed and more than 10 injured during the fighting.
I also know that a significant number of Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a militia were killed, although I cannot give the exact number.”
Falagle also said, “We have driven the militia out of the town and now they are firing back from the outskirts.”
“None of the two sides is in full control [of the town] yet, we can hear heavy gunfire and shelling. The government soldiers are positioned at strategic bases at the heart of the town.” Some witnesses told the media.
In February of last year, Somali troops seized towns previously under ASWJ control, including Guri-El.
Earlier this month, the Islamist group took control of Guri-El unopposed after forcing Somali government troops to withdraw.In an interview at the time, the group’s chief, Sheikh Shakir, said it wants to take control of towns and regions to better protect them from al-Shabab extremists.
Since then, tension has been building as government troops began amassing military reinforcement near the town.
The fighting comes two days after Somalia’s president and prime minister said they had struck a deal to speed up the country’s long-delayed election process.
State media reported on early in the morning that the government has given the Sufist militia ASWJ an ultimatum of two hours to clear and vacate the town before they embark on an offensive against them.
By the time of filing this report, the moratorium to the militant group had expired and heavy build of Somalia government forces were seen in the besieged town
