Al-Shabaab black flag removed from Baidoa city centre

February 23, 2012

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Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali confirmed Wednesday (February 22nd) that Ethiopian and Somali forces captured the strategic city of Baidoa from al-Shabaab.

  • A man climbs onto a Somali university building to take down an al-Shabaab flag in the centre of Baidoa on February 23rd. [AFP PHOTO/Stringer]

    A man climbs onto a Somali university building to take down an al-Shabaab flag in the centre of Baidoa on February 23rd. [AFP PHOTO/Stringer]

"One of the most important cities in southwestern Somalia, Baidoa, has just been captured from al-Shabaab," Ali told reporters in London, one day before a major international meeting on Somali.

Somali and Ethiopian forces reportedly entered Baidoa without conflict, as al-Shabaab had already fled.

The black flag of al-Shabaab was removed from a flagpole in the centre of town on Thursday morning and Somali government officials vowed to continue to fight al-Shabaab insurgents.

"The city is quiet this morning, and people are feeling free for the first time in more than three years," said Governor Abdifatah Mohamed Ibrahim of the Bay region, which includes Baidoa.

Hours after the city had been liberated from the al-Qaeda-allied al-Shabaab militants, two strong explosions rocked Baidoa late Wednesday. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying they inflicted heavy losses on pro-government forces. The claim could not be verified.

The group's military spokesperson, Sheikh Abdulaziz Abu Musab, said the explosions struck Ethiopian and Somali forces when they entered positions vacated by al-Shabaab fighters, pledging to continue the conflict "until Islam becomes the only principle that rules the country".

One resident, Warsame Adan, told AFP that a local factory had been targeted in one of the blasts after Ethiopian forces seized it. "We do not know if there were casualties, as we could not go out at night because there was a curfew," he said.

Baidoa was one of al-Shabaab's main bases, and its capture leaves the group's fighters increasingly isolated, AFP reported. The militants still control large parts of southern Somalia, where they face a land and air offensive by Kenya Defence Forces.

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Reader's Comments

  • Dayow
    October 5, 2012 @ 10:35:29AM

    Dear All, AlShabaab has nothing to do with either Islam or Mujahedeen as they claim BUT they are simply confused bloody hooligans that need to be wiped out of Somalia and the greater Somali nation will be at peace and will restore its lost glory !

  • Abdulswamad
    May 6, 2012 @ 12:51:26PM

    You American infidels why are you oppressing Muslims let them establish their Islamic states, why do you like persecuting Muslims, but with Allah’s power you will be defeated and an Islamic State will rule the entire world, you must fight with every country which has Muslims, we already know that you hate Islam so we also continue to hate you and we will fight with you.

  • ٍسايمونٍ
    March 18, 2012 @ 08:31:01PM

    Peace be upon you! I don’t know what to say, but the whole world is looking at Somalia as a very strong country, despite its poor conditions. Somalia is the only country that has terrified America. They were sent off Somalia with no return. As for this matter, I hope that the Mujahedeen will unite and that their aims are to redeem and make reconciliation with our prophet. Islam is the religion of love and ease, and peace doesn't come except by the sword and power. It is not as the Jews pretend, that peace comes by humiliating Muslims and killing them like sheep in Palestine every day. The Arabs still hope that Israel might grant them peace! That is funny! The Arabs live in big countries and they are powerful! Unfortunately, they ask Israel to grant them freedom!

  • Muna
    March 15, 2012 @ 07:26:50AM

    they all same team Al-Qaeda and alshabaab they not islam if they islam they will never done to any islamic person or kill any one for no reasons

  • neehaa
    March 14, 2012 @ 08:17:45AM

    ALSHABAB is very good

  • Ali
    March 9, 2012 @ 09:48:38AM

    Those who always commit crimes aganist innocent people can not be represent Islamic religion

  • kenneth kiruai
    March 4, 2012 @ 08:09:21AM

    These thugs should be hit so hard that they will live to regret. Target the leaders and the commanders. Let them be killed and buried at sea like osama. I support the fight .

  • paul
    March 2, 2012 @ 11:49:19AM

    Let any logical person fight these hooligans by any means possible. I'm sure somali people will enjoy true freedom when their government will be in control of the whole country

  • ogeto[kenyan]
    February 28, 2012 @ 09:04:40AM

    YES.they deserve the humiliation cos the people need to lead a life of non blood shading and avoid crying against the people who are reaping from where they havent sown bravo bravo our men

  • Kiplangat joe
    February 28, 2012 @ 05:50:37AM

    People who ifght for God' s name must value lives of the innocent children and women and this is not the case with the Al-Shabaab.

  • JAMES WASIKE
    February 27, 2012 @ 05:27:32AM

    Al shabab are just funny folks who wants to missuse the name of the religion.KDF,Ethiopian defence forces plus the Somali forces,keep the fire burning by making sure no trace of Al shabab remains a live in Somalia

  • masoudjongo
    February 27, 2012 @ 03:38:09AM

    We as muslims must give support to alshabaab becaouse they fight for islam and they will win inhsaa allahu

  • Abdalle
    February 26, 2012 @ 02:35:53AM

    Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda share the following ideologies: The use of force to inform, spreading of propaganda using the name of Islamic Shariah in their target areas, branding anyone opposed to their ideologies as the enemy of Islam; vowing to finish anyone, or wipe out of existence any group that opposes them. They are the enemy of Islam. The use of threats and force to achieve interest is also used by both Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda. They also share the attribute of taking responsibility for anything that happens even in where they are not involved. For this reason, both groups should be destroyed like Tamil group that was known as “LTTE” and the whole world must be against these uncivilized groups!

  • Callisto Onyango
    February 24, 2012 @ 12:28:18PM

    Since when has any religious organization enlisted children to fight? They are supposed to be protected because they may not know the essence of the war. Islam is no different.

  • abdiaziiz aden isxaaq
    February 24, 2012 @ 03:58:24AM

    Peace on you, first and foremost, my brothers you are expected to behave well with Somali Muslims {GOOD TREATMENT} {AND TREAT THE UN-BELIEVERS HARSHLY} therefore, my brothers if you fail to influence your people no one will support you. I would therefore urge you to put your guns down now at this moment and become regular Somali citizens. You can start the fight if they come up with something that is against the teachings of Islam.

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