Somali National Army and African Union troops take control of town of Jowhar , AU says . Islamist Al - Qaeda militants gave up the town without a fight , a resident said . The town had been a major base for Al - Shabaab in southern Somalia . Jowhar is at a strategic crossroads north of Somalia .
Somali National Army and African Union troops take control of town of Jowhar , AU says . Islamist Al-Shabaab militants gave up the town without a fight , a resident says . The town had been a major base for Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia . Jowhar is at a strategic crossroads north of Mogadishu .