Macawiisley leave positions around Beledweyne
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Caasimada Online
About 2,000 Macawiisley fighters have left several positions in Somalia’s Hiiraan region and converged on Beledweyne. The withdrawal comes amid tensions between local leaders and the federal government, while the forces support creating a new administration in Hiiraan, according to Caasimada Online.
In Somalia, the Macawiisley community defence forces have left several positions around the districts of Buuloburde and Matabaan in the Hiiraan region and are heading towards Beledweyne, reports Caasimada Online. Other units are reportedly considering withdrawing from the Jalalaqsi area.
About 2,000 Macawiisley fighters are now reportedly in Beledweyne, with heavy weapons and military vehicles. On Friday, they took the Lama Galaay camp and the headquarters of the Hiiraan region and Beledweyne district administrations without a fight, according to the same media outlet.
These local forces, which have been mobilised for several years alongside the Somali army against al-Shabaab insurgents, support the creation in Beledweyne of an administration controlled by the Hawadle clan and independent of HirShabelle state. Community leaders want them to become the first force of this future administration.
The withdrawal could nevertheless expose the abandoned areas to a takeover by al-Shabaab. The Somali army, facing a shortage of personnel, would be unable to quickly replace the local units, while political tensions with the federal government and HirShabelle continue.
