Somalia: Al-Shabaab militants take back town of Merka in southern Somalia
Somalia’s al-Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab militants have taken back a strategic town popular with white buildings and exotic beaches from Somali government forces on Friday, Garowe Online reports.
Somali government forces and African Union peacekeepers have vacated the key town ahead of militant onslaught, with al-Shabaab fighters confronted with a little resistance by vigilantes some distance east of Merca.
Witnesses and residents have confirmed that militants hoisted their flag in downtown Merca in a rare show of military strength in the volatile south.
Merca is so quiet and residents stay indoors due to mounting fear over resurgence of militancy.
Fighters from the Somali militant group were spotted at a police compound in Lower Shabelle regional capital of Merca.