Residents fled from pockets of violence around Mogadishu Monday, two days after a surprise rebel pullback that had led the government to claim it fully controlled the famine-stricken city. Fighting erupted in several areas in the south and north of the city, as African Union-backed government troops set up bases in former Shebab strongholds.
"We are very worried, and many people have already fled to stay away from the firing," said Abdulahi Duale, a resident from the famine-stricken capital's northern Suqaholaha district. "We could hear shooting close to our neighbourhood," he added. The al Qaeda-affiliated rebels who had controlled around half of Mogadishu abandoned their positions in a surprise withdrawal on Saturday but some units remained active on the outskirts of the capital.
Another resident, Huda Ali said: "We could hear the heavy fighting on Sunday night. We are planning to flee because there are stray bullets reaching close to us now." Government officials celebrated the hard-line rebel pullout, but the Shebab say it is merely "a change of military tactics." "It was the second day of our changed tactics, and the mujahedeen fighters carried out at least five attacks," Shebab spokesman Abdulaziz Abu Musab told reporters. "We have inflicted heavy losses on the enemy... where the Christian invading forces tried to expand," he added.
Government forces dismissed the rebel claims, reporting only sporadic shooting as soldiers moved cautiously into former Shebab-held areas. "Our forces are making a gradual advancement into areas of the city where the Islamist militants have left," said Abdikarin Dhegobadan, a senior government officer. "There is no resistance we are encountering so far - the very few rebels remaining are running away, and just firing shots from far away," he added.
Yusuf Mohamed Siad Indhoade, the leader of a pro-government militia, said the Shebab were forced to withdraw from Mogadishu because of internal wrangles. "The tactic change they are claiming is nonsense. We know they are very weak because of the internal disputes and they could not stand a large offensive the government was planning against them, so they pulled out before it was too late," he told reporters. The city was quieter on Monday morning after fighting during the night, but residents continued to move out, fearing further conflict. About 100,000 people from drought-stricken areas have come to Mogadishu over the past two months in search of food, water and shelter, and aid efforts to reach them continued Monday.