Friday July 14, 2023
Kismayo (HOL) - The Jubaland Darwish Forces successfully recaptured the strategic Geriley military base in the Gedo region on Friday after al-Shabab militants seized it on Thursday afternoon.
A fierce battle between al Shabab and the Jubbaland forces took place at the base on Thursday night, resulting in its recapture by Jubbaland. While security officials confirmed the intensity of the fighting, no information regarding casualties on either side has been disclosed.
Ibrahim Guled Adan, the district commissioner of El-Wak town, which
Geriley falls under, said that the militants seized the base on Thursday
after a firefight with Jubaland regional paramilitary forces. Adan said
four people — three soldiers, including two officers and a civilian —
were killed in the attack by al-Shabab.
Geriley was handed over by African Union forces on June 29
as part of the publicized drawdown of 2,000 soldiers ahead of a full withdrawal
by December 2024. The base was handed over to Somali regional forces.
Al-Shabab attempted to take over the base on July 4 but was
repulsed by the regional forces.
The base in Geriley village in the Gedo region lies 12 kilometres from the Kenya border.
These events unfold amidst ATMIS's transition plan, which aims to transfer security responsibilities to the Somali national forces. As part of this plan, seven Forward Operating Bases, including Geriley, are now under the control of the Somali Security Forces.
This transition permitted the reduction of 2,000 ATMIS troops by late June, with an additional 3,000 due for withdrawal by September.