The Somali armed forces have captured the strategically important port town of Harardhere, which was controlled by the al Shabaab terrorist group, local media reported on Monday, citing the country's defense minister.

Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur confirmed that the army and locals have seized Harardhere, the strategic coastal town in Mudug region. It was the last district in the region that was under the control of Al-Shabaab, Somali National Television reported.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre thanked the army and locals for seizing the port, the TV added.

Al Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda-linked group has been waging an insurgency against the central government for more than a decade. It managed to be active in parts of Somalia and other countries of the Horn of Africa, including Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has amped up military operations against the terrorist organization.

Last week, the Somalian government confirmed that the al Shabaab terrorist group requested negotiations after the army launched an "all-out war" against them.  

Deputy Defense Minister Abdifatah Kasim underlined that negotiations are only a possibility for the group consisting of locals since the group of foreigners face one possibility: "to return to where they are from," as he assured that the government is "ready to receive" locals willing to surrender. If they do, they are advised to follow government-provided instructions to reintegrate with society - in case they do not, they will "face the Somali National Army in the front lines."

This marks the first time the terrorist group has ever requested contact and negotiations with the Somali government, but there has been no direct confirmation from the group as of yet.