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Residents of Afgoye can once again enjoy the serenity of their town after Somali and allied forces pushed al-Shabaab out last month.

During the five years al-Shabaab controlled Afgoye, residents lived under poor conditions and farmers were under immense pressure, evidenced by a decrease in agricultural production. Farmers no longer have to give al-Shabaab half of their crops in "taxes".

"Our town is beautiful since you can see that water reservoirs and evergreen banana and mango trees add more beauty and splendour to this charming spot," Afgoye resident Bakar Omar told Sabahi. "We have the perennially flowing Shabelle River, not to mention the scattered water springs and fresh air. Wherever you go, you find comfort and serenity."

Afgoye is an historic town located 30 kilometres northwest of the capital. There are two bridges that extend across the Shabelle River, which runs through the middle of the town, and wooden boats ferry passengers from one side to the other. Farmers irrigate the land with water provided by the tributaries and the rainy season.

The town's population is estimated at 250,000 and most of its residents work in agriculture and hunting. Afgoye is a vital trade centre since it lies along a road to Kismayo, Baidoa, Marka and Mogadishu.

Bille Ahmed Abdullahi, a local merchant who specialises in producing dried lemons, said Afgoye is known for a variety of crops, including bananas, mangoes, lemons, tomatoes, bitter oranges, sugar beets, okra and cucumbers. The town is also known for its sesame seed compressing machines that provide sesame oil.

Local villagers who rely on livestock such as camels, sheep, cows and chickens provide guests with milk and yoghurt as a gesture of hospitality, according to custom, he said.

Somali government extends support to Afgoye

In order to increase agricultural production, the Somali government is planning to supply farmers with seeds, fertilisers and non-chemical pesticides, said Colonel Abdullahi Abdi Ahmed, the new commissioner of Afgoye.

"We support a spirit of co-operation among [farmers] so that they have a sense of community when they commemorate happy and sad social events and harvest crops such as wheat and sesame," Ahmed told Sabahi.

Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed stayed overnight at a farm in Afgoye last week, during which he met with local tribal leaders to form a board of directors for the municipality. This will make Afgoye the first town liberated from al-Shabaab to enjoy an elected local administration, according to political activist Jamila Hanafi.

Hanafi told Sabahi that a financial committee will be responsible for collecting the town's taxes and working to reinstate social services such as schools and hospitals and repairing the town's main street.

Mohamed Baraako, a resident of Afgoye, told Sabahi that the local people originate from several tribes but are united by high morals such as generosity, courage, compassion, sympathy and loyalty.

Without al-Shabaab, they will revert to their peace-loving ways, not taking up arms, he said.

"Residents of Afgoye are generally peaceful and their lives are marked by simplicity and poverty, but they do not go hungry because their fertile land produces plentiful fruits and crops," Barako said.