Speaking to Sunatimes, Bur-hakaba district commissioner designate Ahmed Mohamed Yussuf said government and AU forces are now working on plans to unseat the rebel group from the area.

He said government troops dispatched from Yaq-Bari in Lower Shabelle are now heading towards the town in order to remove militant fighters from the area.

Yussuf added that plans were also under way to clear militants from areas along the road between Baidoa and Bur-hakaba to ease movement of people and goods between these towns.

Elsewhere, government officials in Bay region have called for government support to meet their financial needs.

Area governor Abdifatah Mohamed Ibrahim was quoted as saying that his administration is facing financial crisis and asked the central government to support them in paying the salary of their forces.