African Union, Somali forces claim Al-Shabab port

Somali troops backed by African Union forces on Sunday took control of Barawe, a port town used by al-Shabab after the Al-Qaeda-linked fighters fled their stronghold without a fight, officials said.

The African Union and the Somali military launched a joint offensive in March against the group, and stepped up their campaign in August after a surge in gun and bomb attacks in Mogadishu.

The AU is claiming it as a significant victory because al-Shabab had used the port to bring in arms and fighters and export charcoal, a multi-million-dollar business.

"I wish to share some very good news with the people of Somalia. Al-Shabab terror capital Barawe is now under Somali government control," Lydia Wanyoto, the acting head of the African forces, said in a statement issued by the African Union.

Military officials said the AU and Somali soldiers would remain on the outskirts of Barawe and enter the town on Monday.

"There are no al-Shabab, but we felt it was not wise to rush in today, for there can be bombs planted in the town," a senior military officer who asked not to be named told Reuters.

Abdikadir Mohamed Sidii, the governor of the Lower Shabelle region in southern Somalia, where Barawe is located, said that al-Shabab had fled before the forces surrounded the town.

Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabab's military operations spokesman, declined to comment on whether the group had abandoned the town. Al-Shabab reportedly charged taxes to ships that sailed or docked from Barwawe's port, raising revenues to expand its military campaign. 

On Saturday, al-Shabab commander Mohamed Abu Abdallah vowed that the fighters would maintain pressure on Somali and AU forces even if they took Barawe.

Hussein Nur, a university lecturer in governance and leadership in Mogadishu, said Barawe's loss was a major blow to al-Shabab.

"Economically, it was a port where they exported charcoal and imported what they needed. Militarily, it was a strategic place where Shabab leaders and foreigners hid and trained bombers," he told Reuters.

"For the government, it means al-Shabab no longer has a base in the range of about 200 km away from Mogadishu. However, this is not the elimination of al-Shabab. They are still strong and control large swathes of Somalia." Two hundred kilometers is about 125 miles.

Barawe, about 110 miles south of Mogadishu, had been fully controlled by the al-Shabab since 2006.

Western states, unnerved by the rising tide of Islamic militancy, have given financial support to the AU peacekeeping force.

Al-Shabab was badly damaged by the loss of the southern port of Kismayo to AU forces in September 2012.

Al Jazeera with Reuters