UPDATED: At least 32 Ma’awisley soldiers died in a recent al-Shabaab attack in the Galgaduud region. The terrorist group attacked the local militia forces stationed in Bur Ujeed (also Burujeed), a remote area near El Buur. The attack targeted the Eyr and Murusade factions of Ma’awisley, resulting in casualties on both sides. Moreover, reports indicate that al-Shabaab was able to seize or destroy five military vehicles.
Bur Ujeed, Galgaduud region, Galmudug, SOMALIA.
The specific details of the attack, including the number of casualties and the extent of damage, are yet to be fully ascertained. The most recent reports indicate that al-Shabaab launched the attack on the Ma’awisley outpost with two suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (SVBIEDs), followed by heavy machine gun fire. The terrorist group then captured the area, took photos (which it later posted on its media channels) and withdrew. Al-Shabaab appears to have managed to overrun the Ma’awisley base.
Our reports indicate that an unspecified number of other Ma’awisley soldiers fled the area and are currently missing. Whether those have died or have been hiding in the bushes remains unclear. Al-Shabaab, via its media channels, claimed to have killed 61 fighters and injured the police commander of Guriel (Guriceel). However, the group often exaggerates its battlefield claims.
The incident serves as a reminder of the persistent threat al-Shabaab poses in the region and the importance of continued efforts to counter their operations. It highlights the ongoing challenges the government troops and Ma’awisley forces face in their fight against al-Shabaab. The incident underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy encompassing both defensive and offensive measures to effectively combat the extremist group.
The quiet front
The attack comes a month and a half after al-Shabaab recaptured El Buur, not far from Bur Ujeed. The strategic town returned to the Islamists’ hands after the Somali National Army (SNA) withdrew from the city on 29 August. Following the withdrawal, the entire southern frontline in Galgaduud collapsed and has since been quiet.
Presently, there is a conspicuous absence of activity on the operational front. An unusual stillness seems to have replaced the typical buzz of strategic planning, troop mobilization, and frontline engagements characteristic of active military operations. While possibly providing a short-term respite for the government troops, this operational hiatus raises further questions about the military’s immediate strategy and ability to counteract insurgent advances during this lull.
The SNA and Ma’awisley liberated El Buur on 25 August, which the government described as a historic victory against the Islamists. Al-Shabaab withdrew without fighting. For the following few days, El Buur was the last place the government held in the area until al-Shabaab seized it again.
