Saturday February 15, 2025
A man identified as Moalim Mohamed, the deputy judge of an Al-Shabaab-run court, is seen in custody after being captured by Jubbaland security forces during a targeted raid in Lafo-Gari, Lower Juba. Authorities say the operation also led to the killing of four Al-Shabaab militants.
Kismayo (HOL) — Jubbaland security forces have arrested a high-ranking Al-Shabaab judicial official and killed four militants in an operation targeting the group’s hideout near the town of Dhoobley in southern Somalia, authorities said Saturday.
The operation, conducted in Lafo-Gari, Lower Juba, led to the capture of Moalim Mohamed, who served as the deputy judge of an Al-Shabaab-run court in the region. The court, security officials said, was used by the militant group to impose its strict version of Islamic law on local residents, issuing punishments and rulings without due process.
Colonel Mohamed Heybe, the security commander of Dhoobley district, said Jubbaland forces launched the operation based on intelligence reports about Al-Shabaab activity in the area. Upon arrival, the troops encountered around 20 militants who had fortified their positions. A brief gun battle ensued, resulting in the deaths of four Al-Shabaab fighters, while two others were wounded before the remaining militants escaped. Among those killed was the group’s financial chief for Lafo-Gari.
Jubbaland authorities said the capture of the deputy judge is a major development in their struggle to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s operational and financial networks in Lower Juba. The militant group has long relied on informal taxation, court rulings, and forced compliance to maintain control over parts of southern and central Somalia.
Somalia’s federal government, backed by regional administrations and international partners, has increased military operations against Al-Shabaab in recent months. The insurgent group, which is linked to al-Qaeda, has waged a violent campaign for over 15 years, orchestrating attacks across Somalia and neighbouring Kenya.
Jubbaland officials have vowed to continue operations against Al-Shabaab strongholds.
