Somali forces press offensive in central region, claim dozens of al-Shabaab fighters killed
MOGADISHU — Somali National Army units, backed by international partners, said they killed a number of al-Shabaab militants over the weekend in a pitched battle in central Somalia’s Galgaduud region as government forces step up efforts to wrest control of towns and villages from the insurgents.
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Fighting in Nooleye
In a statement, the Somali defence ministry said the operation in and around Nooleye village lasted several hours and was aimed at dismantling militant cells that have pushed into central Somalia in recent months. The ministry portrayed the raid as part of a broader campaign to restore security to areas increasingly contested by al-Shabaab and Islamic State-linked fighters.
“The operation demonstrates growing coordination between Somali forces and our allies,” the statement read, adding that the military had “degraded” the militants’ capabilities in the sector. It did not provide an independent casualty count for either side.
Local residents described the morning of the attack as chaotic. “We heard heavy gunfire and explosions for hours,” said a Nooleye resident who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. “People fled with what they could carry. Many are now sleeping in nearby farms.”
Gains, setbacks and the wider battle
Government officials point to a string of recent battlefield gains, saying frontlines once lost to militants are being pushed back. They listed districts such as Mahas, Adan Yabaal and Moqokori among areas where Somali forces say they have retaken positions. Yet the gains are fragile: in recent months the national army has also suffered setbacks, with militants seizing strategic towns as they probe the federal government’s control.
Security analysts stress that the ebb and flow of territory is characteristic of Somalia’s long-running conflict. “This is not about single decisive battles but about whether the Somali state can sustain security presence, governance and services — not just kinetic operations,” said Hamza Ismail, a North Western State of Somalia-based analyst focused on Horn of Africa security. “Without that, any town cleared today can be reoccupied tomorrow.”
International partners and the changing landscape
The defence ministry credited international partners with bolstering the operation, a reference that likely includes African Union transition structures, bilateral Western support and intelligence and logistical assistance from foreign militaries that have continued counterterrorism work in Somalia.
That support has evolved. After years of African Union and multinational assistance under AMISOM, the mission has been transitioning to Somali lead — a process that has prompted debate over when and how outside forces should withdraw. U.S. airstrikes and special operations have at times disrupted al-Shabaab cells, and training and equipment programmes have aimed to professionalise Somali units. Officials say those efforts are starting to show.
“Improved training and equipment allow our forces to operate more confidently,” a senior military officer said in a brief phone interview, declining to be named because he was not authorised to speak publicly. “But we still need sustained support on logistics and intelligence.”
Al-Shabaab’s resilience
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaida–aligned group, remains a potent force in Somalia. The militants have repeatedly demonstrated the ability to move guerrilla fighters into rural districts, stage suicide and complex attacks in urban centres such as Mogadishu, and coerce local populations through intimidation and taxation. Their persistence underlines the broader fragility of state institutions across large parts of the country.
Analysts warn that even when the army reclaims territory, the deeper challenge is governance: establishing meaningful civilian administration, rule of law and economic opportunity that can undercut the militants’ influence.
Humanitarian fallout and local impact
Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. Displacement from frontlines, damage to farms and markets, and disruptions to humanitarian access compound long-standing problems of drought and poverty across the Horn of Africa.
“Every time there’s fighting, people lose livelihoods,” said Fatima Ali, a humanitarian worker in Galgaduud. “Families who could have planted or harvested are forced to flee. That creates a cycle of vulnerability that the militants exploit.”
Humanitarian agencies often struggle to reach affected communities during and after operations, and insecurity hampers efforts to deliver food, health care and shelter. The longer that insecurity persists, the harder it becomes to prevent acute crises from becoming protracted humanitarian emergencies.
What’s next?
For now, Somali leaders are promising to intensify campaigns against al-Shabaab and affiliated cells. Military momentum, improved training and international backing are cited as reasons for cautious optimism. But the pattern of temporary clears followed by insurgent returns persists across many theatres of the country.
Questions for the months ahead are stark: can Somali forces translate battlefield gains into lasting governance? Will international partners maintain steady, coordinated support as African Union and Somali responsibilities shift? And perhaps most importantly, can recovery and development reach communities that have been caught between militants and state forces for generations?
The battle in Nooleye is one chapter in a long and complicated struggle over Somalia’s future, one that will test the ability of a fragile federal government to secure both territory and the confidence of its people.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
