MOGADISHU, Somalia – Heavy fighting erupted after heavily armed militias loyal to former Al-Shabaab deputy leader Mukhtar Robow clashed with Al-Shabaab militants near Hudur town, the provincial capital of Bakol region of Somalia.
The fighting flared up earlier on Thursday in Abal village, 18km south of Huddur town after Al Shabaab launched an attack on targets held by the militias.
The militias known as ‘Spiders’ camped near Huddur town.
Robow was Al Shabaab founder, but he defected the group.
He arrested in Baidoa town, some 250km south west of Somali capital Mogadishu, while he was seeking to run public office, ahead regional presidential election in the town.
Somalia accused him of bringing weapons and militias into Baidoa town before the election.
Robow has been in an undisclosed detention in Somali capital Mogadishu since December 2018.
