Somali government forces backed by African Union peacekeeping troops on Sunday seized from rebel fighters a key provincial capital in the center of the Horn of Africa country, residents and officials said.

Government forces and AU peacekeepers entered the town of Jowhar, 90 km northwest of the Somali capital Mogadishu, in the early hours of Sunday, following brief skirmishes with fighters of Al-Shabaab, who had controlled the town for several years.

State Radio Mogadishu quoted the commander of the Somali forces, Abdelkarim Adam Yusuf, as saying the government troops have taken full control of the town of Jowhar, one of the remaining strongholds of the rebel forces Al-Shabaab.

Residents said people have lined up the streets of the town to welcome the government and AU peacekeeping troops (AMISOM) as they advanced into the center of Jowhar, provincial capital of the Middle Shabelle region.

Al-Shabaab confirmed the fall of Jowhar on their official twitter account, saying the city has been "invaded" by Kuffar, infidels in Arabic.

"After nearly four years of peace, stability and implementation of Shari'ah, the Kuffar have invaded the city of Jowhar, Middle Shabelle today (Sunday)," the group said a twitter post.

The AMISOM force commander, Gen. Andrew Gutti, said the capture of Jowhar will help improve security in central Somalia.

"The capture of Jawhar will go a long way in Hiiran and the Lower and Middle Shabelle regions," said Andrew Gutti, "Our joint forces are now consolidating the city's defenses residents to remain calm."

Al-Shabaab linked to the international terror network of Al- Qaida has lately lost ground to the Somali government and AMISOM troops.