Wednesday March 26, 2025

Mogadishu (HOL) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud returned to the frontlines in the Middle Shabelle region on Tuesday to lead and oversee renewed military operations against the Al-Shabaab militant group, the Somali presidency confirmed.

The president’s return follows a brief trip to Mogadishu, where he met with the newly appointed Chairperson of the African Union, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, to discuss Somalia’s security and regional cooperation.

In Raaga Ceelle, President Mohamud addressed hundreds of local fighters from the Macawisleey militia, encouraging them to remain resilient in their struggle against Al-Shabaab, which continues to threaten communities across central Somalia.

“We must finish what we started. Terrorism will not defeat us. The people and the army are united,” the president said, according to a statement from Villa Somalia.

He later proceeded to the coastal town of Cadale, continuing his tour to assess battlefield progress and organize operations. Mohamud has actively engaged with Somali National Army (SNA) commanders and local communities to strengthen coordination in the ongoing counterterrorism campaign.

The Somali government said Al-Shabaab has suffered heavy losses in recent weeks as joint SNA and militia forces push deeper into areas previously controlled by the group.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the militant group—designated as a terrorist organization by Somalia, the United Nations, the United States, and the African Union—has resorted to increasingly desperate tactics, including the recent assassination attempt on President Mohamud in Mogadishu.

President Mohamud’s presence on the frontlines is seen as a morale boost for troops and local militias as Somalia accelerates its efforts to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s rural strongholds and restore security nationwide.