The liberation of Jowhar has enabled the Somali National Army and allied forces to cut off the main supply routes for al-Shabaab fighters in the central region of the country, Somali security officials and military analysts say.
The Somali army, backed by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), took control of Jowhar from al-Shabaab on Sunday (December 9th) without resistance.
"Taking over the city of Jowhar is of huge significance because it means that the main supply route for al-Shabaab in the central region has been cut off," said General Abdullahi Ali Anood, commander of the Somali army's first battalion.
"The fleeing fighters from Jowhar and other fighters that were hiding in the eastern parts of Galgadud, Hiran and Middle Shabelle are now besieged in the land-locked areas," said Anood, who is responsible for leading the military operations against al-Shabaab in the central region.
He told Sabahi the Somali army and AMISOM are succeeding in the final stages of their campaign to eliminate al-Shabaab from the country.
"The national army has a comprehensive military plan that involves hunting down remnants of al-Shabaab and al-Qaeda who have fled the city of Jowhar and to continue the clean-up operations in villages and rural areas until they are completely defeated," Anood said.
Jowhar, capital of the Middle Shabelle region, is one of many regional capitals captured by government-allied forces this year, including Kismayo, Marka, Beledweyne, Baidoa and Hudur.
Somali Minister of Defence Abdihakim Haji Mohamud Fiqi and commander of the Somali army General Abdikadir Sheikh Ali Dini paid a quick visit to the liberated city on Monday.
Fiqi visited the frontline barracks in Jowhar and congratulated the Somali armed forces and AMISOM on the previous day's victory.
"The brave national army, with the support of AMISOM, will continue with military operations to liberate Somalia's soil in its entirety from al-Shabaab and terrorist elements that deny the Somali people peace," he said.
AMISOM force commander Lieutenant General Andrew Gutti appealed to Jowhar residents to remain calm. "The capture of Jowhar will go a long way towards improving security for the civilian population in Hiran and the Lower and Middle Shabelle regions," he said.
Strategic importance
Jowhar, about 90 kilometres north of Mogadishu, lies along the road that connects the capital city with Somalia's central regions.
In 2005, Jowhar was temporarily the headquarters for the Transitional Federal Government. The Islamic Courts Union took over the city in 2006, and then it fell into the hands of al-Shabaab in 2009.
"From an economic standpoint, Jowhar is rich with huge banana, cotton and sugar cane plantations," said Omar Sheikh Mohamed, a military analyst and retired Somali army officer. "Strategically, the city is considered to be a strategic crossing point that links the capital, Mogadishu, with the central regions."
Mohamed said the city was the most important stronghold still under al-Shabaab control.
"The control of allied forces over Jowhar is considered to be a strong blow to the group because this deprives it of one of its most important sources of revenue," he told Sabahi. "It also cuts off the military and logistics supply route for its fighters in the eastern areas of Middle Shabelle, Hiran and Galgadud."
Residents welcome exit of al-Shabaab
Jowhar residents welcomed the liberation of the city from al-Shabaab. "All the people of Jowhar are happy with the arrival of the national and African Union forces," said 34-year-old Yusuf Mohamed, who owns a home goods store in Hanti Wadaag market.
Fadumo Osman, a 38-year-old corn vendor in the Horseed market in Jowhar, said al-Shabaab had ruined people's lives. "Over the past four years, al-Shabaab fighters who controlled Jowhar committed massacres against innocent people," she told Sabahi. "They forced people to live under their brutal unjust rule."
"Al-Shabaab militants imposed upon us their strict rule, including amputating hands and feet, stoning to death, flogging, blackmailing locals, and forcing merchants, farmers and herders to pay money in the name of zakat," she said.
"They turned life into hell," she said. "They deprived us of our basic rights. They were sent to shed the blood of innocent people and we pray that God punishes them for the crimes they committed against citizens."
