Somali army chief promotes troops after Mogadishu-Baidoa road reopens

Sunday April 5, 2026

Baidoa (AX) — Somali National Army commander on Friday rewarded soldiers who took part in the operation that reopened the key Mogadishu–Baidoa road, calling the campaign a serious setback for al-Shabab and a breakthrough for the movement of civilians.

Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Mohamed Mahmoud praised the troops for helping secure the corridor, which militants affiliated with al-Qaida have intermittently blocked since 2009.

“I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart,” the commander said. “As far as I am able, I have promoted each of you by one rank, and the officers who led you will receive the same.”

He said the outcome brought relief after years in which travelers between the capital and Southwest state’s main city faced extortion, fear and repeated attacks on the road.

The government had earlier announced that the route was back in use after fierce fighting in the Daynuunay area of Bay region, where security forces said they dealt heavy losses to militants who had long interrupted traffic along the route.

Mahmoud called on soldiers to hold the ground they had won and press ahead against fighters who scattered during the assault.

The reopening of the road carries major economic and strategic weight. The Mogadishu–Baidoa corridor serves as a vital line for commerce, aid shipments and government operations in Southwest State.

But the military gains came amid fresh political turmoil in the region. Federal forces involved in the road operation also moved into Baidoa after intense fighting with Southwest regional forces, a confrontation that ended with the resignation of Southwest President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen.

The federal government has said the intervention was needed to restore order and strengthen security operations. Opposition politicians, meanwhile, have condemned the promotion of troops tied to the takeover of Baidoa, saying the episode points to a wider political struggle between Mogadishu and regional authorities.

The latest developments highlight how Somalia’s fight against al-Shabab continues to intersect with tense federal-regional relations, as the country grapples with counterterrorism operations and constitutional disputes inside its still-developing federal system.