Somali, African Union and Ugandan forces kill over 30 al-Shabab fighters in Lower Shabelle

Somali, AU and Ugandan troops kill 30-plus al-Shabab fighters in Lower Shabelle operation

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali government forces, backed by the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia and Uganda’s military, killed more than 30 al-Shabab militants during a joint operation in the Lower Shabelle region, authorities said Thursday.

The fighting erupted near the Bulunagaad Forward Operating Base when militants attacked Somali National Army units and AUSSOM troops conducting pursuit operations in the area, officials said. The joint force — which included the Uganda People’s Defence Forces — responded with coordinated ground maneuvers and airstrikes, engaging militants in multiple clashes that left additional fighters wounded.

“The joint forces responded swiftly and decisively to neutralize terrorist threats targeting security personnel and civilians,” the military said in a statement, adding that the operation aimed to blunt al-Shabab’s capacity to stage raids on bases and supply lines.

The push near Bulunagaad followed recent SNA-led offensives codenamed Operation Hidden Sword, which security officials said have cleared militants from coastal zones including the town of Gendershe and along the Jilib–Marka axis south of the capital. Military officials said the latest engagements were designed to consolidate those gains by disrupting retreating cells and denying al-Shabab freedom of movement.

Lower Shabelle remains one of al-Shabab’s most contested theaters, prized by the group as a transit corridor and staging ground amid the region’s network of villages, farms and road links toward Mogadishu. Despite years of offensives, militants have repeatedly targeted forward operating bases and ambushed convoys moving along key routes, complicating efforts to reopen trade and aid corridors.

Authorities said air assets played a central role in Thursday’s operation, striking militant positions and vehicles as ground troops advanced to secure approaches around the Bulunagaad base. No details were immediately released on military casualties, and officials did not disclose the identities of the international partners that supported the mission beyond AUSSOM and the UPDF.

Somali and African Union commanders framed the operation as part of a broader effort to stabilize newly retaken areas so that civil authorities can restore services. Alongside degrading al-Shabab’s combat capability, security forces said they are prioritizing the reopening of roads and ensuring the safe movement of humanitarian aid and essential supplies to local communities that have endured years of insurgent control and recurrent displacement.

The government’s latest campaign underscores the mix of ground clearing operations and rapid-response actions that Somali and AU forces have leaned on to stretch al-Shabab’s logistics and command-and-control. While Operation Hidden Sword has pressured the group along the coast, analysts say al-Shabab often attempts to regroup in rural pockets and test defenses with hit-and-run assaults, particularly around forward bases such as Bulunagaad.

Al-Shabab, which is aligned with al-Qaida, has fought Somalia’s federal government for more than a decade, financing its insurgency through illicit taxation, smuggling and extortion. Somali forces have reclaimed territory in waves over recent years with support from regional and international partners, but the group retains the capacity to mount coordinated attacks, especially in southern regions including Lower Shabelle.

Security officials said joint operations would continue in the coming days to track surviving militants and clear suspected staging points. The SNA and AUSSOM reaffirmed their commitment to expanding coordination with regional militaries while working with local leaders to strengthen community defense initiatives and improve reporting on militant movements.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.