At Least 50 Casualties After Al-Shabaab Attack Against SNA and Macawiisley Militias in South and Central Somalia

MEPA News, More than 50 troops killed, apart from SNA forces and Macawiisley clan militias, were reportedly killed in attacks carried out by al-Shabaab militant group in southern-central Somalia.
The fierce clashes continue between the Mogadishu hired armies and al-Shabaab.

In recent days, clashes have intensified in the Hiiran and Middle Shabelle of HirShabelle state. The government forces trying to stop the advance of al-Shabaab in the region were attacked on Tuesday.

According to local sources, al-Shabaab launched an attack on January 30 against the government’s militia and special operations forces in the region.

It was stated that the government forces, which suffered heavy losses after the attack, withdrew from the front line. Local sources told MEPA that at least 50 members of the government forces have been killed in the clashes since the beginning of the week, including the latest attack.

In a statement on the attack, al-Shabaab said that 54 members of the government forces were killed while 111 people were wounded during the week-long clashes.

It is notable that al-Shabaab has recently intensified attacks against the African Union foreign troops and Somali national armies.

The assault attack comes as Mogadishu faces progressively worse security conditions under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s regime since May 2022.

Last Friday night, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre escaped after security guards shot down one of two drones hovering over Villa Somalia in Mogadishu, The drones are believed to be used by ISIS and Al-Shabaab. The incident follows in response to previous Somali Civil Aviation Authority warnings.

Source: Mepa News