The SNA and allied clan militias have forced al-Shabaab
...... Somalia's version of the Taliban...mindless ferocity in a turban...
, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...
from swathes of territory, in the latest offensive that was declared by president Hassan Sheikh in August last year.
Last month, SNA took control of Harardhere and the nearby town of Galcad in Galmudug
...a semiautonomous region in central Somalia, bordering Puntland on the north. Galmudug is not trying to obtain international recognition as a separate nation, but rather considers itself autonomous within the larger Somali federalism, for what that's worth...
state. Harardhere was a major base for pirates until 2011.
The successes have led some officials to claim al-Shabaab is on its last legs and could be liberated whole country in a short period of time, thanks to Hassan Sheikh for his commitment,
Despite the historic ground gains, the security experts warn that al-Shabaab can regroup and reclaim areas the SNA and community fighters does not have the capacity to hold.