Somali government says it has ousted Islamist militia from town – By Jake Thomas (UPI) / Oct 23 2021
Oct. 23 (UPI) — A regional government in Somalia says it’s in control of a town in the central part of the country after a clash with an Islamist militia.
The fighting began early Saturday morning in the town of Guri-El when Somali troops attacked bases held by Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a, reports Voice of America, citing witnesses and regional officials.
Both sides used heavy artillery, mortars, machine guns and vehicle-mounted anti-aircraft guns in the clash that left 20 people dead and more than 40 wounded, reports VOA. The United Nations told VOA that over 100,000 people had been displaced by the military buildup.
“We have driven the militia out of the town and now they are firing back from the outskirts,” Col. Abdirisaq Mohamud Yusuf told VOA.
