Somalia seizes former rebel stronghold MOGADISHU, Somalia, May 25 (UPI) -- A spokesman for the African Union force fighting in Somalia said al-Shabaab might not recover from the loss of a strategic town near Mogadishu. The AU Mission in Somalia supported Somali forces in a siege on the coastal city of Afgooye, a stronghold for militant group al-Shabaab. Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda said military forces were successful in capturing the town, noting al-Shabaab fighters have pulled out of the area. "They might never recover from this," he told the BBC. Residents in the city said African forces had surrounded the city, saying there were no troops present in the immediate area. The interim Somali government is slated to end its transitional period by August. There's been no functioning central government in the country since the 1990s. Somalia was lauded by members of the international community this year for its political achievements, though conflict has continued for much of the year. Augustine Mahiga, U.N. special envoy to Somalia, had said full support is needed from the international community to help the country get through the critical phase.