The Somali military accused al-Shabab militants of deliberately displacing civilians from villages and towns they had captured before they could be reclaimed by government forces. The last major town seized, Adan Yabaal in the Middle Shabelle region, was almost empty when troops entered on December 5. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud also said that appeared to be al-Shabab's plan as they forced people out of Adan Yabaal last week. Government officials did not disclose the number of people living in Adan Yabaal, but an al-Shabab official said 10,000 people lived there. He said the president's remarks accusing al-Shabab of kidnapping residents of Adan Yabaal were a "lie" and "surprising."

Source: Ethiopian News December 16, 2022 02:56 UTC