Heavy Fighting and Car Bombs as Al-Shabaab Captures Key Somali Town

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Heavy fighting broke out in Somalia’s central Hiiraan region on Monday after Al-Shabaab militants launched multi-front attacks on the town of Moqokori and surrounding areas, residents and sources said.

The militant group claimed responsibility for a series of coordinated assaults, including a suicide car bombing that targeted military facilities in Moqokori town, and ongoing clashes in the nearby Gumarre area, where fighting has been reported since Sunday.

In a statement, Al-Shabaab said it had seized control of Moqokori and killed at least 40 soldiers during the attacks. The group released images showing its fighters inside what it claimed to be government compounds in the town, which had been under government control since 2022.

Somali federal and regional officials have not issued formal statements. However, a brief report published by Somalia’s state media said government and allied local forces had repelled the Al-Shabaab attack and inflicted heavy losses on the group.

Residents told local media that Al-Shabaab fighters were seen moving freely in parts of Moqokori on Monday morning, while government troops and allied “Macawiisley” militia had retreated to the outskirts of the town. Sporadic gunfire was still being reported in nearby areas.

The Hirshabelle state government and Somali federal authorities have not released any official updates on the situation, which remains fluid and volatile. Moqokori becomes the second key city to fall into Al-Shabaab's hands since April this year, after the capture of Aadan Yabaal in the Middle Shabelle region.

The clashes come as Al-Shabaab continues to escalate its insurgency across central Somalia, despite ongoing military campaigns aimed at weakening the group’s hold in rural areas.

GAROWE ONLINE