Keywords: Somali President Sheik Sharif visits Balad Town 15 (7703059750) (cropped).jpg en Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed gestures during a meeting with traditional elders and leaders in Balad town Middle Shabelle region approx 40km north east of the capital Mogadishu 01 August 2012 Balad was until recently under the control of the Al-Qaeda-affliated terrorist group Al Shabaab until an offensive by the Somali National Army SNA supported by the African Union Mission in Somalia AMISOM forces on 26 June drove out the extremists liberating the town and its people and bringing the area under the control of the UN and internationally-backed Transitional Federal Government TFG whose mandate expires on 20 August AU-UN IST PHOTO / STUART PRICE 2012-08-01 14 37 26 https //www flickr com/photos/au_unistphotostream/7703059750/ Flickr AMISOM author Somali President Sheik Sharif visits Balad Town 15 7703059750 jpg AMISOM Public Information https //flickr com/photos/61765479 N08/7703059750 2015-11-28 09 55 46 cc-zero cc-0 Photographs by the African Union Mission to Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud balad Somalia Sharif Sheikh Ahmed |