Militants loyal to the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab have entered Wanlaweyn town, 110 km southwest of the capital Mogadishu.
Residents confirmed that Somali government forces previously stationed in the district that lie between Mogadishu and the provincial capital of Baidoa had abandoned the town after brief skirmishes.
Thus, Al-Shabaab militants moved in on Saturday.
The jihadists ordered the town generators and lights off, but the communications services were maintained.
The militants reportedly entered all the public service offices like the district commissioners’ chambers and the police station.
They also addressed worshippers in a number of mosques, asserting that they were there to reintroduce the Sharia (Islamic laws).
Residents said that some of the government armed personnel in the district had retreated to Bali- Doogle, a former air force airport converted into a compound for the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom). Other soldiers were said to have moved to Afgoye district, 30 km south of Mogadishu.
However, late reports confirmed that the Al-Shabaab militants abandoned Wanlaweyn town in the early hours of Sunday, paving the way for the Somali government forces and officials to return.
During the fasting month of Ramadhan, Al-Shabaab fighters have waged hit-and-run attacks on Somali National Army and Amisom positions in Lower Shabelle region, south of Mogadishu.
The deadliest event took place on June 26 when jihadists overrun a camp at Lego settlement, 140 km southwest of Mogadishu. Some reports indicated that 50 Burundian peacekeepers were killed while others raised the death toll to 70.
Meanwhile, a saloon car exploded at Hamar Jab-jab district in Mogadishu on Sunday morning. An officer working with the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) who was driving the vehicle sustained leg injuries.
Al-Shabaab usually attaches explosives to cars used by government officials. Thus, the Somali government usually blame the fanatical group for similar actions.
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