Exclusive-Somalia asks peacekeepers to slow withdrawal, fears Islamist resurgenceBy Abdi Sheikh, Aaron Ross and Giulia ParaviciniMOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somalia’s government is seeking to slow the withdrawal of African peacekeepers and warning of a potential security vacuum, documents seen by Reuters show, with neighbouring countries fretting that resurgent al Shabaab militants could seize power. But just a few days later, al Shabaab counter-attacked, retaking the town of Cowsweyne. “This broke the hearts of Somalis but gave courage to al Shabaab,” Ahmed Abdulle, the militiaman, from a clan in central Somalia, said in an interview in April. 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 07:14 UTC