Friday October 3, 2025
Somali National Army soldiers meet with local elders in a recently liberated village in Awdheegle district, Lower Shabelle region, after joint operations with African Union AUSSOM peacekeepers drove out al-Shabaab fighters. SUPPLIED
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali government troops backed by African Union peacekeepers under the AUSSOM mission have recaptured key villages from al-Shabaab in Lower Shabelle.
The operation, launched before dawn Friday in Awdheegle district, targeted al-Shabaab hideouts in Shaamgare and Raqayle. Officials said troops overran the villages after a brief firefight, flushing militants from underground tunnels and fortified positions. Several insurgents were killed while others fled the area. The Somali National Army and AUSSOM reported no casualties.
Military commanders described the operation as part of a coordinated campaign to clear remaining militant pockets in the Shabelle corridor, a region long considered a strategic stronghold for al-Shabaab. Supported by Ugandan contingents within AUSSOM, Somali troops have intensified offensives in Lower Shabelle and neighbouring districts over recent months.
In a related development, Somalia’s Ministry of Defense on Friday urged forces in Mahaday district to remain on high alert and strengthen preparations for renewed operations against the militant group. “Security forces must always be ready to defend the public and confront the enemy. National security is a collective duty, and we expect you to double your efforts,” said ministry spokesperson Sheikh Abukar Macalin.
The ministry praised the Mahaday garrison for maintaining stability in recently recovered areas and pledged sustained logistical and operational backing to ensure lasting peace. Officials said joint Somali–AUSSOM coordination will continue to prevent militants from re-infiltrating liberated zones and disrupting local governance.
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaida affiliate waging a 17-year insurgency, continues to mount sporadic attacks and controls swathes of land in south and central Somalia. The federal government, with support from international partners, has vowed to press on with the second phase of its counteroffensive to secure all liberated areas ahead of planned ATMIS troop drawdowns.