Positions in the Lower Shabelle region south of the capital Mogadishu that were vacated by African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) troops has been recaptured by Al-Shabaab militia.

The Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group mentioned Kurtunwarey district, about 120 km south of the capital, among the new gains the militia that had made.

On Sunday, the group's information outlets displayed photos of the "liberated" areas.

"The people in the captured zones have received our militants with enthusiasm," the group said.

Independent reports from Lower Shabelle confirmed that indeed Kurtunwarey district had been retaken after pro-government forces retreated for "tactical" reasons.

Sheikh Mohamed Abu-Abdalla, the Al-Shabaab governor in-charge of Lower Shabelle region, said on Sunday that his militants were now in full control of Kurtunwarey district and other locations.

"Amisom (troops) just abandoned a number of important settlements in Lower Shabelle after they lost many soldiers during the attack on Janaale camp," said the jihadi leader.

He claimed that Amisom and Somali government forces were retreating from many places, urging the people in the area to support the progress being by the militants.

Al-Shabaab had attacked an Amisom camp near Janaale town, 114 km south of Mogadishu, in a pre-dawn assault on September 1, causing heavy casualties among Ugandan peacekeepers.

Nevertheless, the Amisom forces recaptured the camp, forcing the Al-Shabaab militants to flee.