Al Shabaab fighters overran the town of Warmaxan in the Lower Shabelle province of Somalia on Sunday evening following an unexpected withdrawal by government troops on Sunday evening.
The seizure of Warmaxan marks the fourth town seized by Al Shabaab during the weekend, after the Al Aqaeda linked insurgents overran the key towns of Warciise, Qoordheere and Wararaxleey on Saturday.
However the fall of Warmaxan remains the most significant loss dealt to government troops and allied foreign forces led by the US led coalition, which includes thousands of troops from a dozen African mercenary states contributing troops to Somalia on behalf of America’s global war on terror.
The town of Warmaxan sits on the road linking the districts of Afgooye and Wanlaweyn. The district of Afgooye is only 30 kilometers from the capital Mogadishu, while the district of Wanlaweyn sits 20 kilometers from the US run airbase at the Balidogle air field, which hosts America’s largest drone base in Somalia.
As of the moment travel between Afgooye and Wanlaweyn is at standstill for government forces and those aligned with them (foreign troops), which has struck a nerve with Somalia’s government and there international backers.
The recent developments over the weekend further proves that Al Shabaab is still capable of seizing key towns and districts despite being forced into the bush after losing control of Mogadishu in 2011 and other key cities in 2012 at the hands of foreign troops, namely those from neighboring states.
Halgan Media.
