Al-Shabaab Burns 10 Charcoal Trucks in Lower Shabelle
By Zagazola Makama
Al-Shabaab militants have reportedly burned 10 charcoal-laden trucks after intercepting them along the road between Wanlaweyn and Afgooye in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region.
Sources said the militants stopped the trucks and ordered the drivers to disembark before setting the vehicles and their cargoes ablaze.
No casualties have been confirmed in connection with the incident.
The attack highlights Al-Shabaab’s continued targeting of commercial transporters accused of refusing to pay illegal taxes imposed by the militant group or violating its restrictions on the movement and trade of charcoal.
Lower Shabelle has previously witnessed similar attacks targeting charcoal trucks, with the militant group seeking to enforce its control over commercial activities and transportation routes despite government efforts to weaken its influence.
The latest incident also comes amid reports of increased Al-Shabaab attacks and other terrorist activities across several areas under the control of Somalia’s Federal Government, including Mogadishu, Lower Shabelle, Bay and Hiiraan.
Sources said that the renewed attacks could reflect an adjustment in the group’s tactics as the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) begins withdrawing from some areas, while political and security pressures continue to strain the Federal Government.
The burning of the trucks is likely to further disrupt charcoal supplies, inflict financial losses on traders and transporters and increase the cost of moving commercial goods along vulnerable routes.
