Federal delegation secures agreement to transfer Beledweyne security to Somali government forces

A federal government delegation led by Army Chief General Odawaa Yusuf Raage and National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) Director Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Sanbaloolshe has reached an agreement with leaders of the Hawadle clan to transfer control of Beledweyne's security to Somali federal forces. 

During a meeting on Tuesday afternoon with traditional elders, intellectuals, youth, and women from the Hawadle clan, the delegation emphasized the need for federal oversight to restore stability and enhance governance in the town, which has long faced security challenges. 

Sanbaloolshe appealed directly to the clan, urging them to entrust the government with the town's safety, "People question my ability to secure Beledweyne, asking how I can protect the nation if this city remains unstable. We cannot accept militias carrying weapons in the city or roadblocks impeding progress. It is time to entrust security to federal forces."

Minister of Petroleum and Minerals Dahir Shire Mohamed emphasized, "Beledweyne's current situation is untenable. Government centers must be cleared, and armed groups consolidated to pave the way for lasting peace and improved services. Security must precede political resolution."

General Odawaa Yusuf Raage, Commander of the Somali National Army, reminded the Hawadle community of their historical role in resisting al-Shabab militant group. "You are known for your resilience and sacrifices for this nation. This struggle must now translate into a unified effort to stabilize Beledweyne. Prolonged insecurity only hinders progress."

In response, the Hawadle clan leaders agreed to transfer security responsibilities to the federal government while calling for ongoing discussions to address broader concerns. 

The decision comes amid ongoing disputes among local security forces, forces loyal to the Hirshabelle and Hiiraan State administrations, and other clan factions vying for control of the town. These rivalries have contributed to insecurity, including looting and the proliferation of illegal checkpoints. 

The federal government advocates ending such instability in its broader strategy to establish nationwide security and governance. However, the initiative's success will depend on sustained collaboration with local communities and leaders. 

 

 US-Somali operation kills 10 al-Shabab militants

The Somali government said 10 al-Shabab militants were killed in an operation conducted in collaboration with the United States military.

In a statement, Somalia’s information ministry said the operation took place in Beer Xaani town, approximately 60 northwest of Kismayo.

The statement was issued on Sunday but did not specify when the operation took place.

“The operation destroyed a group of Khawaarij [deviants] who were planning to launch an attack. No civilians were harmed during the operation” which, according to the statement, was conducted “with the help of US strikes.”

The United States military on Monday confirmed the killing of senior al-Shabab leader Mohamed Mire in an airstrike on Dec. 24 near the town of Kunyo Barrow in Lower Shabelle region.

The killing was initially reported by the Somali government two days after the operation.

“Mire, also known as Abu Abdirahman, was responsible for al-Shabaab’s regional governance in Somalia for the last 15 years. In addition to being one of al-Shabaab's longest-serving members, Mire served as the interior minister and played a key role in the group's strategic decision-making,” the United States military command in Africa, AFRICOM said in a statement.

AFRICOM said it cannot disclose specifics of the mission, stating only that no civilians were harmed.

“The command will continue to assess the results of the operation and provide additional information as appropriate,” said U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, AFRICOM commander, according to the statement.

“As our National Security Strategy outlines, America remains steadfast in countering the evolving threats of terrorism,” Langley said.

Al-Shabab, which has been fighting the Somali government for more than 15 years, controls large areas in southern Somalia and pockets in the central region of the country.

 Puntland mobilizes clans to counter rising ISIS threat

Puntland is enlisting the support of clans in the Bari region to combat the growing threat of ISIS, which has entrenched itself in parts of the region. The mobilization effort, spearheaded by First Deputy Speaker Mohamed Bari Shire, follows a deadly attack in Dharjaale village that exposed significant security vulnerabilities.

On December 31, 2024, Puntland security forces thwarted an ISIS assault on a military base in Dharjaale, killing 12 militants, including foreign fighters. The attack, marked by a suicide bombing and intense combat, leftover 20 soldiers dead and more than 30 injured. Deputy Speaker Mohamed Bari Shire narrowly survived the attack, which highlighted the increasing audacity of ISIS operations in the region.

Traditional leaders from remote eastern villages, particularly near Al Miskaad, have been urged to collaborate with Puntland authorities to drive ISIS militants out of their territories. During meetings with tribal elders, Shire described Bari as a "predator's haven," overrun by ISIS and Al-Shabaab. He stressed the urgent need for grassroots unity to reclaim the region from extremist groups.

 Six SNA soldiers killed in El-Baraf district buried in Beledweyne town

 Six federal government soldiers killed by clan militia fighters in the Middle Shabelle region were laid to rest on Sunday in Beledweyne, the capital of the Hiran region.

The funeral followed a burial agreement reached by Hawadle and Abgal traditional elders despite lingering tensions over justice for the slain soldiers. 

The soldiers, identified as Abdikafi Ali Cabdulle, Bile Xasan Cabdulle Sabriye, Abdi Abdullahi Adan, Farhaan Xasan Ali Cadow, Abshir Hussein Jimcaale, and Muhiyidiin Cabdulle Wehliye, were killed in El-Baraf district while on leave, travelling to visit their families in Hiiraan region. 

The burial was attended by prominent officials, including the Director of the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Abdullahi Sanbalolshe, army chief General Odowaa Yusuf Raagge, and traditional elders and family members. 

The Somali military court has issued arrest warrants for 14 suspects connected to the killings, while Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre has ruled out resolving the case through clan negotiations. "Accountability and justice are paramount," the prime minister emphasized in recent remarks. 

Initially, elders in Beledweyne had resisted burying the soldiers until the perpetrators were apprehended. However, the agreement to proceed with the funerals is seen as a significant step toward de-escalating the situation while maintaining public pressure for justice to be served. 

 Islamic State claims responsibility for attack on Somalia's Puntland military base

The Islamic State group on Wednesday claimed responsibility for an attack on a military base in Somalia's northeastern region of Puntland a day earlier, the group posted on its Telegram channel.

In its statement, Islamic State said the attack was conducted by 12 militants and two booby-trapped vehicles, adding that it killed around 22 military personnel from the Puntland forces and injured dozens of others.

Somali authorities could not immediately be reached for comment.

On Tuesday, security forces in Somalia said they had repulsed an attack by Islamic State suicide bombers on a military base in Puntland, according to the local state broadcaster and a military official.

Captain Yusuf Mohamed, an officer in Puntland's counter-terrorism forces, told Reuters on Tuesday that nine suicide bombers had been killed and several soldiers had been injured, near the town of Dharjaale in the Bari region.

The group was officially recognised as the Somali province of Islamic State in 2017 and has been based in the mountainous areas of Puntland. For many years, it was considered a minor security threat in the Horn of Africa country compared with al Shabaab, which controls swathes of southern Somalia.

In recent years, however, the Somali franchise has refashioned itself as an important part of the jihadist group's worldwide network, with its head, Abdulqadir Mumin, being named its global leader by some media outlets.

Security analysts say Islamic State in Somalia has grown in strength because of an influx of foreign fighters and improved revenue through the extortion of local businesses, becoming the group's "nerve centre" in Africa.