Baidoa(Mogadishu24)-Southwest State forces have on Thursday morning taken control of several areas after conducting special operation against Al-Shabaab near Burhakaba district in Bay region according to the local authorities.

The State’s Special Police Force Commander, Sandhere Hassan Aden told reporters that their forces are currently stationed into those area where the group used to control and impose their strict rules on residents.

Al-Shabaab militants did not comment on Southwest State Security developments yet so far.

But this operation came six days after the troops under the African Union Transition in Somalia (ATMIS) handed over Bariire Forward Operating Base (FOB) in lower Shabelle region to the Somali National Army, marking the start of phase 3 troop drawdown. AU Mission is expected to withdraw 4,000 troops by end of June 2024.