Somali government forces, bolstered by Galmudug regional forces and the Ma’awisley militia, successfully liberated the town of Amaara (Camaara) in the Mudug region yesterday. The operation comes on the heels of the capture of Ba’adweyne by government and local forces just days ago, marking a hopeful pushback against the al-Shabaab insurgency in Southern Mudug.
Amaara, Mudug region, Galmudug, SOMALIA. By Dalmar:
Through the Somali National News Agency’s (SONNA) statement, the government of Somalia relayed the official confirmation of Amaara’s capture. The recent victories in Mudug have injected a sense of optimism and renewed vigour into the ranks of government forces combating al-Shabaab’s presence in the region.
Despite these promising strides, the Somali government has long faced formidable challenges in maintaining control over newly liberated territories. Al-Shabaab’s tendency to withdraw without engaging in a fight, as was the case in Amaara, too, is a well-known tactic. It enables the extremist group to regroup, reinforce, and launch counterattacks against government forces.
Al-Shabaab has applied this modus operandi in previous skirmishes with the Somali National Army (SNA) and its allies, notably in the Galgaduud region, most recently. SNA initially secured control over towns and villages, such as Osweyne, Wabho or El Buur, only to face defeat or withdraw from these areas amid al-Shabaab’s counterattack.
Recent gains in Mudug
The Somali army and local Ma’awisley militia have recently made substantial gains against al-Shabaab in the Mudug region. Several towns that were once under the control of the Islamists have now fallen into the hands of government and allied forces, shifting the region’s security landscape. Last week, the government forces captured Hinlabi (also Xinlabi) from al-Shabaab’s control. On Sunday, the troops successfully seized the towns of Ba’adweyne and Qaib.
In an attempt to delay the advance of government forces, al-Shabaab recently used a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) attack to slow down the offensive. The targets of this attack included prominent leaders, such as the President of Galmudug and several federal Members of Parliament. While the attack inflicted casualties among the soldiers, the leaders survived and sustained only minor injuries.
