Somali Cabinet praises national army after 130 al-Shabaab militants killed in Lower Juba

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s Council of Ministers on Thursday praised the Somali Armed Forces for killing more than 130 al-Shabab militants during a 24-hour operation that repelled a major attack on the coastal town of Kudhaa in the Lower Juba region.

In a statement, the Cabinet called the offensive a decisive security victory, saying government forces thwarted a “desperate attempt” by the al-Qaida-linked group to seize the strategic town. Officials said the swift response prevented civilian casualties and restored stability in surrounding areas after militants mounted a coordinated assault on military positions.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre separately commended the elite Danab commandos and Jubbaland regional forces, who led the ground response once fighting erupted in Kudhaa. The Prime Minister’s Office said the forces demonstrated “courage, resilience and patriotism,” adding that their actions protected national security and “defeated a serious threat to local communities.”

“The soldiers once again proved their readiness to sacrifice their lives to defend the Somali state and safeguard the people from terrorist violence,” the statement said.

Officials said the clash stretched for more than 24 hours and involved intense ground combat as Somali forces, supported by regional allies, pushed militants out of positions around Kudhaa. Authorities said the town is now fully under government control following the counterattack, which inflicted heavy losses on the insurgents.

Barre said the outcome reflected growing professionalism within Somalia’s security services, highlighting the performance of Danab special forces and Jubbaland units as central to the government’s effort to degrade al-Shabab’s operational capacity. He framed the battle in Kudhaa as part of a broader security push to secure key population centers and protect vital supply routes across southern Somalia.

Al-Shabab has frequently targeted military bases and coastal towns in Lower Juba and other southern regions as part of its yearslong campaign to undermine the federal government. In recent months, Somali forces, working with regional and international partners, have increased pressure on the group through simultaneous operations aimed at isolating militant strongholds and disrupting logistical networks.

The government did not provide details on its own casualties or damage to military infrastructure in Kudhaa. However, the Cabinet emphasized that the swift mobilization of units across the area and coordination with regional forces prevented the militants from establishing a foothold inside the town.

The operation underscores the importance of Lower Juba as a theater in Somalia’s evolving counterinsurgency strategy. Kudhaa, a coastal settlement with access to key maritime and inland routes, has strategic value for both government forces and militants seeking to move fighters and supplies. Officials say securing such nodes is essential to maintaining pressure on al-Shabab and creating conditions for civilian governance to take root.

Thursday’s statements suggest Mogadishu will continue to lean on specialized units such as Danab and allied regional forces to lead offensive operations while regular troops hold recaptured territory. While officials portrayed the Kudhaa battle as a turning point in the immediate area, they also signaled that sustained operations will be necessary to prevent the group from regrouping in neighboring districts.

The government’s messaging—praising the military’s performance, spotlighting elite units and stressing the absence of civilian casualties—appears aimed at bolstering public confidence as Somalia navigates a prolonged counterinsurgency marked by periodic high-profile attacks. For now, authorities say, Kudhaa is secure and under government control, with security forces remaining on heightened alert across Lower Juba.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.