Implications of recapture by Somali army of El Buur

The city of El Buur is one of the main strongholds of al-Shabaab in Somalia.

This makes the city acquire greater importance for the Somali army.

Army control over the city will completely stop the misery caused by the terrorists to the country.

The commander of the Somali army underscored, meanwhile, the importance of recovering this area, which has been under al-Shabaab's control for several years now.

The Somali Ministry of Defence said the army, in cooperation with the Popular Resistance, has fully taken control of El Buur in central Somalia.

According to the Somali news agency, SUNA, the army makes continuous combing operations inside the city.

The forces, it added, currently work to stabilize security, pursuing terrorist elements.

Army Commander, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Sheikh Muhiyadin Addow, said in a live broadcast via Facebook: "victory for Somalis".

He added that El Buur fell in the hands of Somali forces.

"The forces are now inside the town," Addow said.

He added that control over El Buur would completely stop the misery caused by al-Shabaab, and spread peace and prosperity.

One of the army commanders who led the operation to recapture the city said El Buur is calm.

"The army is clearing it," the commander said. "We are ready to defend ourselves," he added.

The commander noted that a reliable force is able to defeat any force attacking it.

Al-Shabaab has been carrying out bloody attacks from El Buur throughout the region for 16 years.

The recapture of the city is one of the biggest victories in the offensive launched a year ago by the government and allied forces against the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist movement.

Successes on the battlefield will be seen as a victory for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who vowed to wipe out al-Shabaab over the next five months.

Nevertheless, the government faced difficulties in recapturing the areas al-Shabaab controlled and stopping the deadly bombings carried out by the movement.