Af Urur is a village in the Puntland region of Somalia, located on the Golis Mountains approximately 60 miles southwest of Bosaso. The settlement is placed at a strategically important location, and has thus become strongly contested during the Somali Civil War.[1] One of the most prominent clans in the village are the Tiinle.[2]

Af Urur
Village
Coordinates: 11.0004274°N 48.9739381°E / 11.0004274; 48.9739381
Country	Somalia
Autonomous state	Puntland

History

Promixal to the al-Shabaab-controlled Galgala hills, the village has been attacked and captured by the militant group several times.[3] Af Urur contains a camp for a contingent of the Darawish paramilitary group, which have been fighting al-Shabab.[4]

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.[5][3] It was one of the deadliest al-Shabaab attacks in Puntland.[5][3]

Al-Shabaab again attacked and fully occupied the village on 20 July 2018.[6] 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.[7] On 11 June, Darawish troops counterattacked, and restored control over Af Urur.[8]

References