Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Friday that the Al-Shabaab's taking over of new towns this month does not mean the resurgence of the Al Qaeda linked group.

The Islamist militants, who aim to overthrow the United Nations-backed government, recaptured several settlements this month in central and southern parts in the country.

"AMISOM (the African Union force) and Somali national army have liberated most of the major towns in Somali from Al-Shabaab and taken control over the strategic locations and in the remote areas. Al-Shabaab may control smaller locations, but these are not strategic," Mohamud said.

The president's remarks come after the militants recaptured Janale town after African Union and government forces vacated the town on Thursday.

However, both AMISOM and Somali forces termed the move a tactical retreat and vowed to retake the town later.

Mohamud said the group once controlled a large swathe of regions in the Horn of Africa nation, but now had limited access to the ports, which they used in the past to generate cash for the group from smuggling or importing arms. In 2012, Al-Shabaab lost its strategic port of Kismayo in the country's south.

"Al-Shabaab is not regaining strength at all. It lost everything that can give it strength," said the president.