Somali government forces, backed by the local Ma’awisley militia, make substantial gains against al-Shabaab in Galmudug’s Mudug region. Several towns that were once under the control of al-Shabaab have now fallen into the hands of government and allied forces, shifting the region’s security landscape.
Mudug region, Galmudug, SOMALIA. By Dalmar:
A few days ago, the government forces reportedly captured Hinlabi (also Xinlabi) from al-Shabaab’s control. Recent reports indicate that the troops have continued their offensive, and today, they successfully seized the towns of Ba’adweyne and Qaib, dealing another blow to the extremist group’s presence there.
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.
What happened in Laas Ga’amey?
The Friday morning attack occurred in the frontline village of Laas Ga’amey between Wisil and Ba’adweyne. The suicide car bomb assault sent shockwaves throughout the nation. Federal lawmakers Abdisalam Haji Dhabancad and Senator Abdi Qaybdid sustained injuries in the explosion, although they were not life-threatening. The militants targeted the camp where high-ranking politicians, regional leaders, and local militia commanders gathered to discuss and plan counterterrorism operations.
The state media reported the incident, praising the Somali National Army (SNA) for thwarting the attack. “The soldiers heroically stopped and neutralized the explosive-laden car but suffered two casualties.” The commander of the Galmudug Dervish army, General Mohamed Nur Ali Gadaar, confirmed the attack. According to him, the assault killed soldiers from the Galmudug Presidential Unit and injured others.
Clash in Sargo
In another clash just yesterday, al-Shabaab attempted to assault government troops in Sargo, a village near Hinlabi in the Mudug region. The confrontation demonstrated the group’s determination to counter the government’s advances and maintain its presence in the area.
The situation in Mudug remains fluid. The Somali Digest will continue to closely monitor developments as they unfold. The gains made by government forces, backed by local militias, offer a glimmer of hope in the ongoing struggle against al-Shabaab.
