Somali forces retake city

Somali and African Union (AU) forces retook the coastal city of Barawa, Somalia, from the al-Qaeda allied, militant Islamist group al-Shabaab on Oct. 6. The city was the last major port controlled by al-Shabaab, which used it as a center for importing and exporting, keeping the group funded and armed.

Somali and AU troops have retaken seven al-Shabaab controlled cities since launching new operations on Sept. 1. Al-Shabaab’s leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, was killed by a US drone strike in August.

The US Department of State continues to warn travelers to avoid all travel to Somalia. While some parts of south-central Somalia are now under Somali government control, with AU military support, al-Shabaab still can carry out attacks there.