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The administration of Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa (ASWJ) has announced that it has cleared out al-Shabaab from several towns in central Somalia, including in parts of Galguduud and Hiiraan.

All liberated areas have now been secured, ASWJ representatives told Sabahi.

Ahmed Abdullahi "Ilka'ase", deputy leader of ASWJ's administration, told Sabahi that the pro-government militia liberated the areas from Dhusamareb, capital of the Galguduud region, to the area of El Bur, El Garas and El Lahelay.

"We have liberated the area extending from the town of Mahas, including El Bur, Guri El, and Beledweyne, to the town of Kalabeyr," he said. "We also liberated the area extending from Wara-dhuumale to El God town from the hands of al-Shabaab."

"From the time the fight erupted in Dhusamareb between our fighters and al-Shabaab militants on March 20th, the forces of al-Shabaab weakened, giving our fighters and allied forces the opportunity to eradicate al-Shabaab from their strongholds including Mahas," Ilka'ase said.

"The Ethiopian military and government have given our fighters enough personnel and material support to eradicate al-Shabaab from their stronghold in the central regions and we thank the Ethiopian government for its support," he said.

"Civilians [in the area] initially fled their homes to seek refuge elsewhere, but now that they know the areas have been liberated from al-Shabaab and peace has been restored, they have started coming back," he said. "The power and water supply have also been restored [in El Bur]. Professionals and businessmen also returned to the town after they found out that it is peaceful and in the hands of ASWJ."

Aadan Abdulle Awaale, a member of ASWJ who lives in Beledweyne, said that the recent defeat foretells a weak future for al-Shabaab. "The public welcomed the defeat of those militants working for al-Qaeda [al-Shabaab] with a sigh of relief, as it had been a big threat to them," he said, adding public support is a clear indication the group has been defeated.

"We welcome all efforts to wipe out al-Shabaab from the entire country and our commitment to that endeavour has been clear," Sheikh Mohamed Mohamud Yusuf "Libah", a senior ASWJ official, told Sabahi.

Mohamed Ahmed, who drives commercial transport vehicles throughout central Somalia, said things have changed a great deal after allied forces took control of parts of Hiiraan and Galguduud.

"The heavy presence of armed soldiers is felt across the region," he said. "I have seen Ethiopian soldiers pass through Guri El, and ASWJ fighters prepared for combat. The people in this region feared the effects of such fights, however they have welcomed [the arrival of] ASWJ."

"I have also seen people who had fled from the fighting in Galguduud return home," Ahmed told Sabahi.

Ilka'ase said ASWJ plans to continue its efforts to remove al-Shabaab militants from the area.

"We have yet to clear al-Shabaab from some parts of Mudug, Galguduud and Hiiraan, but we assure [the public] that we will free those territories in the near future, God willing," he said.

In addition, ASWJ will establish administrative offices in all newly liberated areas, he said.