Somali and African Union forces have taken partial control of Barawe, a coastal town held by Shabaab for the past six years. Shabaab fighters were said to have made a tactical retreat from the town two days ago. Some 25 Shabaab fighters were killed in clashes outside Barawe over the past two days. Jubbaland president Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) announced a new offensive to drive Shabaab from its strongholds, and offered Shabaab fighters a 48-hour amnesty.
