"The AU and Somalia's government have emphasised the importance of a conditions-based drawdown to prevent any security vacuum," he told Reuters. SETBACKSTwo years ago, an army offensive in central Somalia initially seized large swathes of territory from al Shabaab. But just a few days later, al Shabaab counter-attacked, retaking the town of Cowsweyne. Reuters could not independently establish the extent of the territorial losses to al Shabaab. The government has said its soldiers are capable of confronting al Shabaab with limited external support.

Source: Ethiopian News June 20, 2024 06:31 UTC