The militant group al-Shabaab has recaptured the strategic town of El Buur in the Galgaduud region of Galmudug State. The Somali National Army (SNA) withdrew from the city last night. The entire southern frontline in Galgaduud has now collapsed.
El Buur, Galgaduud, Galmudug, SOMALIA: By SD Editorial Team:
Earlier reports indicated that al-Shabaab completely encircled the strategic town. Some of those trapped in El Buur were Danab, the SNA special forces trained by the United States. These forces could receive air support from the U.S. if al-Shabaab attacked. Thereby, the hopes were high that they could defend this critical town.
The SNA and allied forces liberated El Buur on Friday, 25 August, in what the government described as a historic victory against the Islamists. Al-Shabaab withdrew without fighting. For the past few days, El Buur was the last place the government held in the area. After al-Shabaab recaptured it, the entire southern frontline in Galgaduud has now collapsed.
Government’s failure to hold territory
El Buur has been under different levels of al-Shabaab’s influence for the past 15 years. The situation there illustrates the challenge of maintaining liberated territories. In April 2017, al-Shabaab retook the town after Ethiopian troops, who had occupied it for almost three years, abandoned it. The withdrawal and subsequent loss of El Buur to the Islamists has been emblematic of a broader trend in the region.
If the government troops managed to hold the city, its capture would mean a significant victory over the militants. Unfortunately, the government has had a long history of failing in that. Fears were high from the beginning that al-Shabaab would retake control in days or weeks, as it did in Ruun-Nirgood last week. The Somali government has constantly failed to build their bond with the local people.
Furthermore, experts have criticised the government for involving politics in the SNA’s purely military operations. Should the Somali army operate independently without political influence and with sustainable funding, these frontline breakdowns could have been prevented.
