Al-Shabaab Regains Control of Key Areas in Southern Somalia

NAIROBI, Kenya - Al-Shabaab militants have reportedly regained control of several strategic areas in the Middle Shabelle region of Somalia, including the towns of Al-Kawthar and Boos-Hareeri, according to sources close to the regional administration.

This comes after the Somali federal government and local militia forces, known as Macwiisley, withdrew from several locations due to the continuous attacks launched by Al-Shabaab, which caused significant casualties.

In one of the recent clashes, a senior Somali military officer and his troops were killed in an ambush near Boos-Hareeri when Al-Shabaab launched an assault. The group also displayed military vehicles they had captured during the attack, further demonstrating their strengthened position in the region.

Since the beginning of Ramadan, Al-Shabaab has intensified efforts to reclaim territory it had previously lost in the Middle Shabelle region, resulting in a growing security threat. The Somali government and local forces are now focused on containing the group's expansion, though the situation remains precarious.

This latest development is part of a broader escalation in violence across central and southern Somalia, where Al-Shabaab has been regaining ground. Despite efforts by the Somali government and allied militias, the group’s resurgence presents a significant challenge to national security and efforts to stabilize the country.

The ongoing conflict has cast doubt on the effectiveness of the Somali government's military strategy, which had previously made some progress in pushing back Al-Shabaab. However, the recent setbacks, including the loss of key territories and the deaths of senior officials and soldiers, have led to a sense of crisis.

GAROWE ONLINE