Jump to content

Af Urur

Coordinates: 10°50′21″N 48°55′55″E / 10.83917°N 48.93194°E / 10.83917; 48.93194
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Af Urur
Town
Af Urur is located in Somalia
Af Urur
Af Urur
Coordinates: 10°50′21″N 48°55′55″E / 10.83917°N 48.93194°E / 10.83917; 48.93194[1]
State Puntland
RegionBari, Somalia

Af Urur is a town in the Puntland state of Somalia, located on the Golis Mountains, somewhat far from Bosaso, but its exact location is not known.[1] The settlement is placed at a strategically important location, and has thus become strongly contested during the Somali Civil War.[2] One of the most prominent clans in the village are the Tiinle.[3]

History

[edit]

Promixal to the al-Shabaab-controlled Galgala hills, the village has been attacked and captured by the militant group several times.[4] Af Urur contains a camp for a contingent of the Darawish paramilitary group, which have been fighting al-Shabab.[5]

In June 2017, Af Urur was the site of an attack by al-Shabaab militants against a Somali military encampment, leading to between 20 and 70 deaths.[6][4] It was one of the deadliest al-Shabaab attacks in Puntland.[6][4]

Al-Shabaab again attacked and fully occupied the village on 20 July 2018.[7] Af Urur was subsequently retaken by Puntland's military, but the local garrison retreated on 8 June 2019, allowing al-Shabaab to capture it once again.[8] On 11 June, Darawish troops counterattacked, and restored control over Af Urur.[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b African Defence Review (2017-06-10). "Finding Af Urur – Al-Shabaab's latest target in Puntland". Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  2. ^ "Maxay Af-Urur muhiim u tahay?" [Why is Af-Urur important?] (in Somali). British Broadcasting Corporation. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Dhimashada Tirada Ciidanka Daraawiishta Ee Af Urur ku dhintay Iyo Beelaha Ay Kasoo Jeedaan". Puntland Observer (in Somali). 8 June 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Hassan, Abdiqani (June 8, 2017). Roche, Andrew (ed.). "Al Shabaab kills 38 in Somalia's Puntland: military". Reuters.
  5. ^ Osman, Harun (June 8, 2017). "Heavy Losses Reported as Somali Puntland Forces Repel Al-Shabab Attack". Voice of America. Af-Urur is a camp for a contingent of the Darawish, a paramilitary force in Puntland that has been fighting al-Shabab in the Galgala Mountains. The militant group attacked the same camp in January this year when the regional forces fiercely defended it killing nine militants.
  6. ^ a b Bearak, Max (June 8, 2017). "Al-Shabab militants storm army base in Somalia, killing dozens". The Washington Post.
  7. ^ Ibrahim Ahmed (2 August 2018). "Somaliland-Puntland Rift Ripe for Exploitation?". Voice of America. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Al-Shabaab militants seize control of town in Somalia's Puntland region". The New Arab. 9 June 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Puntland forces recaptures Af-Urur village from Al Shabab". Somaliland Standard. 11 June 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.