( CNN ) -- Somali government forces and African Union troops pushed al Qaeda-linked militants out of its last outpost in the western part of Mogadishu , opening the main artery to the famed Bakaara Market , the African Union Mission to Somalia said Friday . It 's the latest action in a months-long military campaign designed to push al-Shabaab fighters out of the Somali capital . African Union peacekeeping forces , who have been operating under a U.N. mandate , say the military action is designed to inhibit al-Shabaab 's ability to hide behind civilians and limit civilian casualties , the African Union has said . The capture Thursday of Damanyo , a militant outpost in western Mogadishu , opens one of the city 's main arteries to the famed Bakaara Market , the African Union said in statement released Friday . The market is the city 's commercial hub and the site where one of two U.S. Blackhawk helicopters were downed by militants in 1993 . Raging street battles in the capital since February have pitted government troops , backed by the African Union , against the jihadist movement al-Shabaab , which controls much of southern Somalia . Al-Shabaab is waging a war against Somalia 's government in an effort to implement a stricter form of Islamic law , or sharia . Somalia has not had a stable government since 1991 , and fighting between the rebels and government troops has escalated the humanitarian crisis in the famine-ravaged country . The peacekeeping force is charged with protecting key government and strategic installations in Mogadishu , including the port , airport and presidential palace . It is the de facto military force of the weak , transitional Somali government . CNN 's David McKenzie contributed to this report .
Forces have pushed militants out of the last outpost in western Mogadishu , officials say . The capture of the outpost allows for the reopening of the main road to the famed Bakaara Market . Somali forces and African Union troops have been battling militants for control of Mogadishu .