Somalia's al-Shabaab Militants Recapture Key Town In Central Somalia

Reuters: Somalia's Shabaab seize third town this month after peacekeepers withdraw

Islamist militant group al Shabaab on Sunday seized control of yet another town in central Somalia after it was abandoned by African Union peacekeepers, a militant spokesman and a local official said, the third to fall to insurgents this month.

On Sunday, an Ethiopian contingent abandoned the town of Halgan in the Hiran region, allowing the group's fighters to enter soon after, said Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab's spokesman on military operations.

A military offensive launched in 2014 by AU forces and the Somali army pushed out of major strategic centers, but the insurgents, who once held sway over much of the Horn of Africa country, still control some settlements and rural areas.

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More News On Somalia's al-Shabaab Militants Recapturing A Key Town In Central Somalia

Shabaab takes Somali town after Ethiopia troop pullout -- AFP
Somalia's extremists re-take town in country's center -- AP
Al Shabaab takes over Somali town after Ethiopian troop pull out -- Africa News
Somalia: Al Shabaab militants retake control of town in Southern Somalia -- Garowe Online

African Union Base in Somalia Overrun By Al Shaabab Militants. Dozens Of Kenyan Soldiers Killed

NYT: Shabab Say They Overran African Union Base in Somalia, Killing Dozens

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The Shabab militant group said on Friday that it had overrun an African Union base in a village in southern Somalia and killed dozens of peacekeepers.

Residents described what appeared to be a suicide car bombing, followed by a ferocious firefight that lasted at least five hours. The African Union confirmed an attack on its troops. But central details, including the identity of those killed, were not immediately clear.

Sheikh Abdulaziz Abu Muscab, a spokesman for the Shabab, which is affiliated with Al Qaeda, said the group had killed 63 Kenyan soldiers at the African Union base near the village of El-Adde and had seized ammunition and military vehicles.

More News On African Union Base in Somalia Being Overrun By Al Shaabab Militants

Al-Shabab: Military base seized in Somalia; 63 peacekeepers dead -- UPI
Kenya's President Says Troops Killed by Somali Extremists -- AP
Al Shabaab militants attack Somali army base, says dozens dead -- Reuters
Several dead as Al Shabab storms African Union base in Somalia -- AFP
Kenyan Soldiers Killed In Attack by Islamic Militants on African Union Base in Somalia -- WSJ
Al-Shabaab hits African Union base in Somalia -- CNN
Al-Shabab seizes African Union base in Somalia -- BBC
Al-Shabab Attacks African Union Base in Somalia -- VOA
Kenyan Leader Says Somalia Militant Raid Killed Some Troops -- Bloomberg
Ban condemns attack on African Union base in southern region of Somalia -- UN News Centre
Al Shabab attacks African Union troops in Somalia. Any prospects for security? -- Bamzi Banchiri, CSM

Life Is Tough For An American Jihadist In Somalia

'Just Been Shot In Neck By Assassin': American Jihadist Live-Tweets Attack In Somalia And Shows Picture Of His Bloody Neck -- Daily Mail

* Alabama native Omar Hammami said he was attacked in a tea shop
* Posted pictures showing blood on his neck and a dark blood-stained t-shirt
* Hammami blamed Al-Qaida-linked group al-Shabab for the attack

An American jihadi in Somalia was shot in the neck as he sat in a tea shop in a supposed failed assassination attempt - and promptly tweeted a picture of his bloody neck wound.

Omar Hammami - a native of Alabama who is now on the FBI's most-wanted list - also claimed after the attack that the leader of Islamic extremist rebels is starting a civil war.

The jihadi believes his assassination attempt was at the hands of al Qaeda-linked group al Shabab - which he joined in 2006. He fell out with the group last year and since then claims there have been numerous attempts made on his life.

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My Comment: He has a choice .... stay in Somalia where you will probably be killed .... or deliver yourself to the FBI. My bet is that he is going to take the martyrdom route. As for what is my take .... I have only one word to describe him ..... "stupid".

Update: ‘There’s No Turning Back’: My Interview With a Hunted American Jihadist -- The Danger Room

The Conflict In Somalia Continues

Somali Army Captures Key Town From Al-Shabaab Rebels -- CNN

MOGADISHU, Somalia (CNN) -- The Somali National Army, along with African Union troops, on Sunday launched a long-awaited offensive against al Qaeda-linked Somali rebels and captured the town of Jowhar, the AU and residents said.

The joint forces faced little resistance, the African Union Mission for Somalia said in a press release, adding that Jowhar had been a major base for Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia.

Abdi Isac, a local resident, said by phone from Jowhar that the allied troops peacefully entered the city after the Islamist militants pulled out without a fight or firing a single shot.

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More News On Somalia's War Against Al-Shabaab

Somalia: 'Al-Shabab' militants forced out of Jowhar -- BBC
In Somalia, African Union and gov’t troops take town from Islamist extremists of al-Shabab -- Washington Post/AP
Somalia: Somali and AU Forces Capture Jowhar From Al Shabaab -- AllAfrica.com
Somali security forces 'evict' Al Shabaab from biggest town -- Examiner
African Union, Somali troops capture Shebab stronghold -- The Nation

Al Qaeda's al-Shaabab Puts A Bounty A President Obama

Somali Islamists Offer 10 Camels As Bounty For Obama -- CNN

(CNN) -- The United States offers millions for information leading to the capture of the world's most wanted terrorists.

A Somali militant group has purportedly countered with an offer of camels for U.S. officials.

Al-Shabaab has placed a bounty of 10 camels for President Barack Obama and two camels for information on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

An audio statement posted on jihadist websites purportedly from Al-Shabaab jeered news that the United States is offering millions of dollars for information on seven key members of al-Shabaab through its Rewards for Justice program.

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My Comment: al-Shaaba is losing the war in Somalia (see above video). This 'bounty' is just propaganda.

Update: Yup .... they are mocking us.

Are African Troops Close To Defeating al-Shabab In Somalia?

Troops Close To Taking Somalia Out Of Terrorists’ Control -- Washington Times

KAMPALA, Uganda — African troops are targeting the Somali port city of Kismayo, the last main town controlled by al-Shabab terrorists, after driving the al Qaeda-linked rebels out of strongholds across a nation afflicted by 20 years of instability, war and famine.

African Union troops ran al-Shabab out of Mogadishu in August, but the nearby town of Afgoye allowed the Islamist rebels to control traffic in and out of the capital and extort money from anyone who wanted to enter or leave.

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My Comment: Al Qaeda linked groups like Al-Shabab have recently suffered serious defeats in Somalia .... but until their leadership has been captured or kill, they are still a dangerous threat.

US Puts Bounty On Somali Al-Shabaab Militants

Somali government soldiers open fire during an ambush by al-Shabab rebels on the outskirts of Elasha town, Somalia, May 29, 2012. Voice of America

US Offers $33 Million Bounty On al-Shabaab Insurgents -- The Telegraph

The Obama administration will offer up to $33 million in rewards for information about top members of an Islamist extremist group in Somalia linked to al-Qaida, US officials said on Wednesday.

The rewards for seven leaders of the al-Shabab militia movement will be announced on Thursday by the State Department, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement.

The bounties will be administered by the department's Rewards for Justice program. It will be first time the programme has offered rewards for members of al-Shabab, which is accused of terrorist attacks in Somalia, Uganda and Kenya.

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More News On The U.S. Offering Bounties On Al-Shabaab Leaders

Al-Shabab: US puts bounty on Somali militants -- BBC
Exclusive: U.S. offers millions in bounty for top Somali militants -- Reuters
Wanted in Somalia: US puts bounties on top Al Shabab leaders -- Christian Science Monitor
US Offers Bounty for Somali Militants -- Voice of America
Somalia: Rewards for Justice - Al-Shabaab Leaders Reward Offers -- AllAfrica

My Comment: Al-Shabaab has experienced a number of military setbacks in the past year .... I guess these bounties are an attempt to expedite al-Shaabab's demise.