Somalia’s Al Shabaab insurgents on Friday retook their stronghold of Merka from African Union troops who had held the key port since 2012, in one of the biggest setbacks for the multi-national force.
The loss of Merka, the state capital of Lower Shabelle, is one of the most dramatic reverses for the AU force in its nearly decade-long battle against the Al Shabaab.
“The AU troops pulled out of the town and Shebab militants entered — and have secured control without fighting,” Ibrahim Adam, governor of the Lower Shabelle region told reporters.
The historic port, some 100km (60 miles) south of the capital Mogadishu, was captured in August 2012 by African Union troops.
It is one of the first major towns the Al Shabaab have seized back and it gives them access to a sea port again.
There was no immediate response from Amisom, or government officials.