Somali Troops Clash with Al-Shabaab Over Vital Central Town

Somali government troops and the Al-Shabaab militant group have engaged in fierce battles over control of a strategically significant town in the centre of the country, according to local sources. The fighting centred on Moqokori, a key town located around 300 kilometres (185 miles) north of Mogadishu. The town serves as a vital access point to several major locations in the Hiraan region.

According to Abdulahi Adan, a commander of local militias allied with government forces, Al-Shabaab launched a large-scale assault involving “vehicles packed with explosives and hundreds of fighters.” He confirmed that pro-government forces had made a “tactical retreat,” but stressed that sporadic clashes were still ongoing and the militants had not achieved a full takeover.

A local elder from the nearby town of Mahas, Yusuf Mohamed, reported that multiple wounded soldiers and militia members had been transported there for treatment.

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Moqokori has long been contested territory. Al-Shabaab previously seized the town in 2016 and briefly held it again in 2018. Its capture would offer the group significant leverage over central Somalia.

Somali Troops Clash with Al-Shabaab Over Vital Central Town

The Somali government’s news agency, SONNA, claimed the attack had been foiled and that several Al-Shabaab fighters were killed in the process. However, no further details were released.

The clash follows growing concerns over a possible resurgence by Al-Shabaab, which has ramped up attacks in recent months—including one targeting the convoy of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Despite the presence of over 10,000 troops from the African Union Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), the group continues to carry out deadly operations across the country.

Just last month, seven Ugandan soldiers were reportedly killed in a separate clash with Al-Shabaab in the Lower Shabelle region, underscoring the persistent threat the group poses in the Horn of Africa.

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