Al-Shabaab seizes strategic town during Somalia President's frontline trip 

MOGADISHU, Somalia - For the better part of Wednesday, heavy fighting was reported in Masaajid Cali Gaduud town after the Al-Shabaab attack, with the ambush coming at the time President Hassan Sheikh was visiting soldiers in the frontlines in the Middle Shabelle region.

Through its website, the Al-Shabaab group claimed capturing the town but there has been no independent confirmation. A local official on the other hand said government forces are not far from the city.

On Tuesday, President Hassan Sheikh spent the night at Adale, at least 40 kilometres south of Masaajid Cali Gaduud. The attack comes at the time the Somali National Army (SNA) is fighting the group in central and southern regions.

Masaajid Cali Gaduud is one of the towns that have expanded within the last 20 years. Government forces and local fighters recovered the town in October 2022 following the offensive, officials said, while noting the importance of the town in the fight against the group.

The government is promising a major offensive against al-Shabaab in Middle Shabelle. At Adale, Hassan Sheikh addressed both the SNA officials in the group, promising to support their actions with the ultimate aim being defeating the militants.

Al-Shabaab is reported to have seized control of Masaajid Cali Gaduud following explosions and direct combat but the number of casualties on either side is not yet known. Al-Shabaab is fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia.

On Wednesday, hours after the Al-Shabaab capture of the area, the president left for Mogadishu and today, he travelled to Turkey on an official visit at the invitation of Erdogan. 

The US Africa Command and the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) have been assisting local forces with the US army often using aerial bombardments to contain the threat by the militants who are predominant in central and southern regions.

Although Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has increased the budget for security forces, the local troops are yet to conduct as many operations against the group without assistance from foreign forces, whose stay in Somalia is almost coming to an end.

GAROWE ONLINE