Skip links

Skip to Content
play

Live

Navigation menu

  • News
    • Middle East
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • US & Canada
    • Latin America
    • Europe
    • Asia Pacific
  • Ukraine war
  • Features
  • Economy
  • Opinion
  • Video
    • Coronavirus
    • Climate Crisis
    • Investigations
    • Interactives
    • In Pictures
    • Science & Technology
    • Sports
    • Podcasts
play

Live

In Pictures

Gallery

Exclusive: Al-Shabab moves in on central Somalia

As Somalia prepares for polls later this year al-Shabab quietly takes over towns left by withdrawing Ethiopian troops.

Al Shabab / Photo Gallery - [Hamza Mohammed/Al Jazeera]
Al-Shabab fighters undergoing training outside the central town of Moqokori are part of the group's Special Forces [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]
By Hamza Mohamed
Published On 14 Nov 201614 Nov 2016
facebooktwitterwhatsapp

Mogadishu, Somalia – Somalia-based rebel group al-Shabab has been on the offensive in recent months retaking strings of towns in south and central Somalia.

Since the start of this year the group which is linked to al-Qaeda has retaken at least 10 towns from Ethiopian and African Union troops. They retook four towns in the past month.

Analysts say that the change in fortune of al-Shabab is in part due to events outside Somalia. The anti-government protests in neighbouring Ethiopia is the reason, they argue.

Ethiopia has thousands of troops in the Horn of Africa country as part of an agreement with the Mogadishu government to fight the armed group.

But Addis Ababa denies the claim.

Al Jazeera’s Hamza Mohamed visited an al-Shabab training camp in central Somalia and obtained these exclusive photos.

READ MORE: Al-Shabab regains land as Ethiopia pulls troops

Al Shabab / Photo Gallery - [Hamza Mohammed/Al Jazeera]
Senior Al-Shabab leaders visited the fighters who included explosives experts, medics, mechanics and suicide bombers. [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]
Advertisement
Al Shabab / Photo Gallery - [Hamza Mohammed/Al Jazeera]
Several foreign fighters from neighbouring countries are training at the camp [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]
Al Shabab / Photo Gallery - [Hamza Mohammed/Al Jazeera]
Ethiopia said it was withdrawing its fighters due to financial reasons [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]
Al Shabab / Photo Gallery - [Hamza Mohammed/Al Jazeera]
Al-Shabab controlled the town for more than seven years before Ethiopian and Somali troops recaptured it [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]
Al Shabab / Photo Gallery - [Hamza Mohammed/Al Jazeera]
Ethiopia said it was likely to withdraw from more towns in the coming months [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]
Al Shabab / Photo Gallery - [Hamza Mohammed/Al Jazeera]
Children came out to watch as al-Shabab military convoy entered Moqokori town [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]
Advertisement
Al Shabab / Photo Gallery - [Hamza Mohammed/Al Jazeera]
Since 2011 al-Shabab has lost control of most major towns and cities in the country [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]
Al Shabab / Photo Gallery - [Hamza Mohammed/Al Jazeera]
Al-Shabab is fighting to overthrow Somalia's internationally recognised government [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]
Al Shabab / Photo Gallery - [Hamza Mohammed/Al Jazeera]
They want to impose a strict version of Islamic law in the country [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]
Al Shabab / Photo Gallery - [Hamza Mohammed/Al Jazeera]
The Somali government has placed bounty on most of al-Shabab leaders [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]
Al Shabab / Photo Gallery - [Hamza Mohammed/Al Jazeera]
The Somali government has also offered amnesty to any al-Shabab fighter who renounce the group [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]
Al Shabab / Photo Gallery - [Hamza Mohammed/Al Jazeera]
Most al-Shabab fighters have walked away from the government's amnesty offer [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]
Al Shabab
The vehicles the group is using were taken during raids on government troops bases [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]
Al Shabab / Photo Gallery - [Hamza Mohammed/Al Jazeera]
Some of al-Shabab's weapons were also taken from attacks on African Union bases [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]


    • About Us
    • Code of Ethics
    • Terms and Conditions
    • EU/EEA Regulatory Notice
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Cookie Preferences
    • Sitemap
    • Community Guidelines
    • Work for us
    • HR Quality
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Apps
    • Channel Finder
    • TV Schedule
    • Podcasts
    • Submit a Tip
    • Al Jazeera Arabic
    • Al Jazeera English
    • Al Jazeera Investigative Unit
    • Al Jazeera Mubasher
    • Al Jazeera Documentary
    • Al Jazeera Balkans
    • AJ+
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Studies
    • Al Jazeera Media Institute
    • Learn Arabic
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights
    • Al Jazeera Forum
    • Al Jazeera Hotel Partners

Follow Al Jazeera English:

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • instagram-colored-outline
  • rss
Al Jazeera Media Network logo
© 2023 Al Jazeera Media Network