On Monday, Somali government forces conducted a successful operation near Qansah Dhere district in the Bay region, killing six al-Shabaab militants, including two key leaders. The raid, executed in Weel-Manas village, approximately 15 kilometers from Qansah Dhere, led to the capture of multiple weapons and motorbikes, marking another step in the Somali government’s ongoing offensive against the militant group.
According to Somali military sources, the two prominent al-Shabaab figures killed were Nuur Kerow Haydar and Shegow Adan Macalim, who oversaw the group’s local operations, including sanction enforcement and extortion from residents. This operation reflects a broader strategy against al-Shabaab, which has recently intensified in various regions. In Mogadishu, al-Shabaab has targeted businesses for forced collections and prohibited security camera installations, prompting Somali intelligence to launch operations against the group’s criminal networks.
However, political rifts between the Somali federal government and regional administrations, such as Jubaland, have occasionally delayed these military initiatives. Ongoing disputes over Jubaland’s election process between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and regional leader Ahmed Madobe have stalled some operations, affecting security coordination.
In a related move to reinforce security, the Somali Council of Ministers reappointed General Odowa Yusuf Raage as the Commander of the Somali National Army (SNA) on Sunday, replacing General Ibrahim Muhyiddin, who held the position since June. This appointment, confirmed by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre’s office, aims to strengthen defense operations and escalate efforts to eliminate Khawarij insurgent factions. Raage, who previously served as SNA commander from 2019 to mid-2023, brings experience critical to the Somali government’s renewed military strategy.
The leadership transition also comes as Somalia prepares for a handover of security responsibilities from African Union forces to Somali control, under a new mission, the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which is set to replace the current AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) by early 2025. Egypt and Djibouti have pledged support for AUSSOM, while Somali authorities, citing recent sovereignty-related issues, have excluded Ethiopian forces from the mission.
With Raage’s reappointment and the upcoming AUSSOM mission, Somali authorities are committed to securing the region and restoring stability in their fight against al-Shabaab, despite regional political complexities.