Tension is running high in Hiiraan province since Al-Shabab militant regained control of Moqokori district in a fierce battle on last Monday. Hundreds of heavily armed Al-Shabab fighters launched an attack that began with explosions on military bases that located in the front gate of the district which facilitated the militant group of Al-Shabab to take control of the district. Al-Shabab was dislodged from this strategic district three years ago and this has delayed the efforts which were aimed to flush out the settlements in the district that they captured.
This has brought about movements commenced in the East of Hiiraan province which are aimed to drive Al-shabab out of Moqokori district. The previous plan was to flush out Al-shabab from settlements in Moqokori district that they captured on June 29, 2025.
Reports say that the biggest mobilizations are currently underway in major towns like Beledweyne, Halgan, Buuloburde and Mahaas in order the Somali National Army (SNA) and Ma’awisley local defense forces to launch counter offensives on Moqokori district. Military officers, politicians including Members of Parliaments from Federal and Hirshabelle, traditional elders from Hiiraan province have a huge role in the mobilizations that are underway in the province in order to prevent Al-Shabab and to drive them out from Moqokori.
The mobilizations can be felt in these towns as large troops from local defense forces are being mobilized. Mahaas is the center of the mobilizations which are underway in the region; therefore, it is the second town that Al-Shabab militants are trying to regain control after they captured Moqokori. It is believed that Al-Shabab are focusing on Mahaas as it is the major route that they can reach to the East of Galgudud province.
Reports indicate that there is a feeling that Al-Shabab will launch a raid on the town unless the Somali troops move into Moqkori. Military officers, politicians, elders and intellectuals are holding meetings which are aimed to prevent the Al-Shabab’s threat from expanding in the town and dislodge them from Moqokori. It is noteworthy that Yasooman is adjacent to Aboorey settlement which is next to Jicibow settlement and which lies on the banks of Shabelle River.
Al-Shabab reinforcements can directly cross from East of Middle Shabelle to the West in Hiiraan province. If you take a look that Al-shabab are in control of Alkawsar and Adan Yabaal which lie in the East of Middle Shabelle province and Moqokori district in the Hiiraan province in which the road is open to Yasooman, Aboorey and Jicibow settlements and is easy to cross from Hiiraan province while crossing the Shabelle River. This has risen the tension in the region unless the local residents do not get used with Al-Shabab who were in control of the area in which the Somali troops liberated from them.
The head of the President’s office for affairs of the local fighters commonly referred as Ma’awisley, Ali Jeyte Osman who has been away from the frontlines arrived yesterday in Mahaas. He is now presiding over the meetings in Mahaas.
The former governor of Hiiraan province is trying to revive the local defense forces known as Ma’awisley and those that had a fallout when it comes to the last armed skirmishes to have a base where they can launch their raids. Ma’awisley forces from Hiiraan region is remembered that they played a lion’s share when it comes to liberating Al-shabab from settlements in Hirshabelle state at end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 although Al-Shabab captured areas where the defense forces have put their lives in the live.
Community leaders from the province are furious with the negligence from the Somali Federal Gov’t; in addition, that the Somali Federal Gov’t did not support the residents in freeing themselves from the terrorist groups. They were disappointed that the Somali troops easily lose the control of Moqokori and they have put the blame on the shoulders of Villa Somalia. They believe that the Presidential Palace did not provide the necessary support to the residents in the fight against Al-shabab. The Somali gov’t is fully aware that the local residents reject to surrender to the militant group of Al-shabab.
Hiiraan residents see themselves that they are committed when it comes to the fight against armed Al-Shabab fighters; however, the Somali Federal Gov’t is undermining and that is what most of the people have acknowledged. They were fighting Al-Shabab in the settlements in Moqokori district for the past months while operations that were underway in Hirshabelle, Galguduud, and Mudug provinces in Galmudug state have ceased.
Al-Shabab militants believe that there is no pressure from Hirshabelle and Galmudug states, but have surged their attacks in the East of Hiiraan province and finally captured Moqokori district.
On the other hand, Hiiraan regional governor, Muse Salad Weheliye on Wednesday accepted military equipment donated by Ethiopia’s Somali regional state which is earmarked for the Somali National Army (SNA) and Ma’awisley forces who are engaged ongoing war with Al-Shabab. He accepted the equipment while he was staying in Ferfer district which lies in the border of Hiiraan province with the Somali regional state in Ethiopia.
He got a pledge from the officials that they will continue the support for the Somali National Army (SNA) and Ma’awisley forces that are fighting with Al-Shabab.
He called on the regional states in Somali to unite in the war against Al-Shabab. He urged other regional states to launch operations and that will expedite the defeat of Al-Shabab. The war with Al-Shabab is crucial for the local residents. It is a situation of either sink or swim. It is not clear when the Somali National Army (SNA) and Ma’awisley forces will launch an attack on Moqkori district and how long it will take to dislodge Al-Shabab from the district. However, there is a possibility that Ethiopian troops who are part of AUSSOM will join the offensives which are aimed to dislodge Al-Shabab from Moqkori.
