Wednesday October 20, 2021
Al Shabab set fire to donkey cats transporting food in Wajid Town, South West State.
Mogadishu (HOL) - Four Al-Shabaab militants were killed and wounded several others on Wednesday following a pitched battle with Somalia's 60th division near the town of Wajid in the Bakool region, according to local officials.
The Somali army engaged with Al-Shabaab militants after the latter destroyed seven donkey pulling carts delivering food.
Wajid District Commissioner Mohamed Moalim Yusuf said that the primary military objective was to rescue the owners of the pull carts and secure the transport of food into the area.
"Somali National Army forces killed 4 Al-Shabab militants and injured others during an operation at a location near Wajid district in Bakool region this morning."
"The operation aimed to rescue seven men with donkey carts transporting food and other products to the town," Yusuf said.
Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble strongly condemned the Al-Shabaab to attack the donkey trucks.
"I condemn and deeply condemn the brutal and banditry of Al Shabaab who burned food and property belonging to Somali businessmen on the outskirts of Wajid district in Bakol region."
Roble praised the 60th Division for rescuing the traders.
Somalia's Justice Minister, Abdikadir Mohamed Nur, also condemned Al-Shabaab's siege on Wajid.
Killing donkeys and setting fire to the food cargo has long been part of Al-Shabaab's strategy of laying siege to towns in the south and central Somalia.
Residents in the town say that food is often smuggled into the area.
On Sunday, Mohamed Kulow Ali, an al-Shabaab operative operating in the Bakol region in southwestern Somalia, surrendered to Somalia's 60th division in Wajid town.