Several Somali soldiers and military commanders are feared dead following an al-Shabab attack in the central region of Somalia on Saturday.
The attack took place in Owsweyne, a recently liberated village located approximately 20 km from the Elbur district in the Galgadud region. Although the government stated that the forces successfully repulsed the attack, they refrained from commenting on the casualty figures.
Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a close friend of President Mohamud, has called for an independent investigation into the terrorist attack in Owsweyne. He believes that numerous soldiers and their commanders were killed. Sharif Sheikh Ahmed emphasized the importance of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the attack and identifying the officers responsible for the area’s security.
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed extended his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and officers. He also commended the military forces for re-liberating the ancient district of Elbur and other areas within the Galgaduud region.
On Friday, Somali government forces captured the historic district of Elbur, about 400 kilometres (249 miles) north of the capital, Mogadishu, shortly after al-Shabab militants hastily fled the district.
Elbur, located in the central Somali region of Galgaduud, has been a stronghold for al-Shabab for nearly a decade, and its capture represents a significant blow to the group.
