Somali moderate Islamist rebels have taken over the control of a town located in the Central region of the country on Sunday morning.
Dhusamareb, the capital of Galgadud region and North of Mogadishu, was under the control of forces loyal to the Federal government of Somalia.
According to local residents, the Ahlu Sunnah Waljama’a milita launched attacks from the outskirts of the town and managed to capture strategic bases after few hours from the government forces.
Ahlu Sunna waljama’a is a paramilitary group consisting of moderate Sufis opposed to the radical Islamist groups such as Al-Shabaab in Somalia. It became prominent in 2008, when it took up arms against al-Shabaab after the radical group began destroying the tombs of the country’s Sufi saints.
The number of casualties of the battle is yet unclear as the town return to calm.
Over the years, the group has been famous for supporting the Somali government but it has accused recently the government for marginalizing it.
The latest development comes as efforts are underway to form a regional Federal state, which Ahlu Sunnah has criticized.
HM
