Somali troops capture key port town from al-Shabab

Somalian government troops supported by African Union forces have captured a key stronghold of al-Shabab Islamists, officials said.

According to BBC, it is a significant blow to al-Shabab because they had used Barawe as a supply route for weapons and food and as a base for a lucrative charcoal business.

The regional governor said he was in the centre of Barawe, about 200 km from Mogadishu, capital city of Somalia.

The government now controls all the seaports along the coast of Somalia, blocking off supply lines.

Al-Shabab had held the town for six years and used it as a base to launch attacks on the capital, the AU said.

The militant group , which is estimated to have at least 5,000 fighters, wants to overthrow the UN-backed Somali government and has imposed a strict version of Sharia in areas under its control.