A joint security operation was carried out by troops from the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), specifically the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UDPF), in collaboration with the Somali National Army (SNA). This operation resulted in the apprehension of a senior Al-Shabab officer named Salad Osman Ma’alin, also known as Sahm, who was located in the Mubaraak settlement. According to an official statement released by AUSSOM, Sahm, who is 40 years old, has been a member of Al-Shabab since 2009 and was the Commander of a brigade. The statement also mentioned that Sahm was accompanied by Al-Shabab fighters, including foreign fighters from Jilib town. During the interrogation, Sahm provided important details, revealing that an Al-Shabab operative named Ismail from Kenya was planning a suicide attack, while another operative known as Ismail had fled after conducting reconnaissance on the defense positions of the Somali National Army. The attack was planned on military bases manned by AUSSOM troops and the Somali National Army. Brigadier General Jackson Kayanja, the Contingent Commander of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces serving under AUSSOM, commended the vigilance of the troops involved in the operation and urged the community to strengthen security cooperation.
