Al-Shabaab, Locals Clash in Jowhar
Local residents and militant Islamist group al-Shabaab clashed in the town of Jowhar, Middle Shabelle overnight, with at least two reported dead in the violence.
Yunis Hussein, a resident of the area, told Somalia Report that al-Shabaab launched a midnight raid on the business community in a section of the town, which the locals tried to repel.
“We assembled 15 of our best fighters ... with al-Shabaab sending more than forty fighters,” he said. “They began firing at us senselessly and we swiftly responded until 0500 local time ... they later began shooting at around 0600 local time until they took charge of the area.”
Al-Shabaab, which has pulled out of Mogadishu, is looking to exert more pressure on provincial areas under its control in a bid to gather resources for its operations.
“Most of the residents here are farmers and have nothing as a result of the severe drought; they opted to fight in order to protect themselves from the enemy,” Yunis said.
“They are desperate and are now focusing more on gaining cash to fund their work at the expense of the local businessman,” local trader Hassan told Somalia Report. “They broke into my shop, as well as many other outlets, and stole all the cash, goods and equipment and loaded them into their cars.”
Hassan says that he had $150 in terms of stock and $100 in cash, which was all taken.
There have been growing reports of local communities, hit by drought and desperately managing their meagre resources, fighting back against insurgent attempts to appropriate goods, cash and livestock.
