Addis Ababa: The Somali National Army (SNA) and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have captured the sixth town from Al-Shabaab rebels, an official statement said here Friday.
The Al-Shabaab stronghold Buula Burde in the region of Hiraan was taken by the SNA and AMISOM Thursday evening, Xinhua quoted the Addis Ababa-based African Union (AU) as saying in the statement.
The capture of the town brought to six the number of towns liberated from Al Qaeda linked terrorist group in the past two weeks, a top AU official was quoted as saying.
The AU special representative for Somalia and AMISOM chief, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, said the capture of Buula Burde was a major victory for the SNA and AMISOM forces and a boost for the peace restoration process in Somalia.
The joint operations of the SNA and AMISOM launched this month have also liberated Hudur, Rabdhure, Ted, Weel dheyn and Burdhubow.
“Buule Burde in Hiraan region in Sector 4 was a strategic town for Al-Shabaab. It was their supply nerve centre and home to hundreds of the Al Qaeda linked terrorists. The capture of this town by our heroic forces provides a major boost to our efforts to bring peace and stability to Somalia,” Annadif said.