Somalia
Al Shabaab has taken control of a key town in central Somalia on Sunday immediately after the pull out of Ethiopian troops stationed there by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Local reports indicate that hours after the pull out from Halgan, Al Shabaab militants besieged the town and took over police and administrative buildings without any confrontation.
BREAKING: Early Sunday Al shabab Militants recaptures Halgan Village, Hiran, after Ethiopian Forces vacated from the Village
— Khadar Mohamud Hared (@khadarmh) October 23, 2016
Halgan is a key operational center for AMISOM where the local army and Ethiopian soldiers engage the Islamist group.
This is the second town Ethiopian troops have pulled out from in a month for unclear reasons but suspected to be linked to domestic unrest in their country.
Several deadly attacks have been launched in Halgan and the town located in the provincial capital of Hiiraan has once been occupied by Al Shabaab.
02:09
Thousands of residents arrive in Waza after Medouga massacres in Makary
Go to video
At least 50 soldiers killed in jihadist attack on Malian army base
02:01
Somalia seeks new shipping routes as regional tensions disrupt trade
01:03
Somalia: Fighting breaks out on outskirts of Baidoa
01:11
Nigerian armed groups raise nearly $6 Million in ransoms, study finds
00:44
Somalia clashes with regional forces over control of key city