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Abdifatah Gessey, the TFG governor in Bay region, confirmed the advances to Somalia Report and vowed that operations against al-Shabaab militants will increase. He also asked local residents to cooperate with TFg forces.
“Early on Friday, our troops advanced operations against the terrorist group, they tried to repel us, but the national forces succeeded in chasing them away,” he told Somalia Report. “I can confirm to you that our forces are in full control of Burhakaba, Qasahdhere, Daynuunay, Manaas, Iidaale, Ufurow and Moodemoode, and the operations will continue till we secure the entirety of the Bay, Bakool and Gedo regions,” he added.
Although there were no heavy fighting, some reports indicate that there were casualties on both warring sides, including death and injury. The clashes that did occur took place in unpopulated areas, so there were no civilian casualties. Most of the residents in Burhakaba and Qasahdhere districts fled their homes on thrusday night after the allied forces come near the districts, while al-Shabaab fighters were preparing to rebel them.
The allied forces have seemingly completely captured the whole of the Bay region, except for the Diinsoor district where the insurgents have a large base. No immediate comments were available from al-Shabaab officials in Bay region about the recent TFG and Ethiopian offensive against them.
Meanwhile, Governor Abdifatah Gessey appealed to the international community and aid agencies to act in support of the residents of Bay and Bakool region. “There are humanitarian crises in the region: most people are suffering from hunger and malnutrition, since the terrorist groups had banned the aid agencies. People welcomed our forces happy that we liberated them from three years of occupation. They hope to receive relief aid soon,” he pleaded. “I call on aid organizations, especially the United Nations aid agencies, to immediately bring relief aid into the Bay and Bakool regions and save the lives of thousands of victims. Our troops will secure the aid aghencies,” Gessey claimed to Somalia Report.