Al-Shabaab Seizes Key Towns, Captures Soldiers, and Gains Military Equipment

Al-Shabaab (AS) militants have taken control of Masjid Cali Gaduud and Geelgub in Middle Shabelle after intense clashes with the Somali National Army (SNA). The group has released images showing five captured government soldiers, including a member of Somalia’s Custodial Corps, as well as seized military vehicles. This attack follows a recent humanitarian aid delivery by the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SODMA) to Masjid Cali Gaduud, which AS now reportedly controls. Meanwhile, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has returned to Mogadishu from Adale amid growing security concerns.

During the assault, AS launched a coordinated offensive that forced SNA troops to withdraw. The district commissioner of Masjid Cali Gaduud later confirmed that the town had fallen to the militants. In addition to capturing soldiers and military equipment, AS reportedly gained access to food and essential supplies delivered by SODMA just days before the attack.

The capture of Masjid Cali Gaduud, located only 40 kilometers from Adale where the Somali president had been based, poses a direct threat to government-controlled areas in Middle Shabelle. The deployment of Custodial Corps personnel to frontline combat raises concerns about the preparedness of government forces and potential manpower shortages within the SNA. Furthermore, the loss of humanitarian aid to AS risks undermining local support for government forces while strengthening AS’s logistical resources. President Mohamud’s return to Mogadishu signals heightened security concerns and the potential reassessment of military strategy.

Despite ongoing government-led offensives, AS continues to demonstrate its ability to seize and hold territory. The proximity of these latest attacks to both Adale and Mogadishu raises alarm over the group’s capacity to expand its influence. The Somali government is expected to launch a counteroffensive, but the loss of key personnel and resources may complicate efforts to regain control of these strategic locations.