Tuesday February 18, 2025
Pro-government Ma’awisley militia fighters gather in a rural area of central Somalia’s Galgaduud region, preparing for an operation against Al-Shabaab militants.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Ma'awisley fighters launched a coordinated assault on an Al-Shabaab stronghold in El Buur, a district in central Somalia's Galgaduud region, according to security sources and residents.
The attack, carried out late Monday night by the local militia aligned with the Somali government, specifically targeted the residence of an Al-Shabaab commander overseeing operations in the town. Local reports indicate that the militia inflicted casualties on the militant group, though the exact death toll remains unconfirmed.
Following the assault, Ma'awisley forces reportedly withdrew safely to their bases without sustaining losses. Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab militants have increased pressure on El Buur's civilian population in the wake of the attack, according to sources inside the town.
The attack marks the second time Ma'awisley fighters have launched a direct offensive against Al-Shabaab positions in El Buur, one of the group's key operational hubs in central Somalia. The district has remained under Al-Shabaab's control despite ongoing counterterrorism efforts by Somali government forces and allied militias.
Ma'awisley, a loosely organized militia formed by local communities, has played a significant role in resisting Al-Shabaab's influence in rural areas of central Somalia. The group has conducted several ambushes and hit-and-run attacks against the militants, often in coordination with Somali government forces.
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked militant group, has maintained a strong presence in Ceelbuur and other parts of central and southern Somalia for over a decade. The group frequently targets government officials, security forces, and local militias opposing its rule.