Monday August 18, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s defense minister on Monday called
on government forces and allied militia to press deeper into al-Shabab
strongholds in Middle Shabelle, as the federal government prepared for a new
offensive against the extremist group.
Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi led a high-ranking
delegation to front-line positions, where federal troops and local militia
fighters have been battling the al-Qaida-linked insurgents.
The delegation included Mogadishu’s mayor and Banaadir
regional governor, Hassan Mohamud Hussein Muungaab, Chief of Army Staff Maj.
Gen. Sahal Abdullaahi Omar, lawmaker Osman Mohamed Hadole and other senior
officials.
Fiqi praised recent gains against al-Shabab and urged
fighters not to relent. “The enemy is retreating, but it must be eradicated,”
he said, according to a statement from the Defense Ministry. “Our duty is to
secure peace and stability for all Somalis.”
Federal officials say preparations are underway for a
large-scale operation to reclaim remaining territory under al-Shabab control in
Middle Shabelle and neighboring Hiiraan, both part of Hirshabelle state. The
push follows reports that the militant group has recently retaken several key
areas in the region, raising concerns about the sustainability of government
advances.
Al-Shabab, which has waged a brutal insurgency for more than
15 years, continues to pose the greatest security threat to Somalia. The group
has carried out deadly attacks in Mogadishu and beyond, even as Somali forces,
backed by African Union peacekeepers and international partners, intensify
efforts to weaken its grip on rural areas.