In a significant escalation of violence, the Islamist group Al-Shabaab launched a pre-dawn raid on the central Somali town of Adan Yabaal, a key government and military stronghold, according to reports from army officials. The attack marks a concerning turn in the ongoing battle against the Al-Qaeda-linked militants, who had previously been pushed onto the defensive by Somali forces supported by African Union-led peacekeepers throughout 2022 and 2023.
The violence erupted around 5:30 am local time, with clashes reported outside of Adan Yabaal, located approximately 220 kilometers (140 miles) north of Mogadishu. The town has served as a critical base for military operations against Al-Shabaab, particularly in the Middle Shabelle and Hiiraan regions.
“It was a desperate attack by the terrorist militants against the Somali army’s positions in the Adan Yabaal district this morning,” said Captain Mohamed Ali of the Somali army. He confirmed that intense fighting continued in various parts of the town, where militants initially used bomb-laden trucks to breach defenses before advancing into the center.
As the situation developed, the Somali army reported that reinforcements were being dispatched from nearby positions to bolster defenses against the incursion. However, Al-Shabaab claimed that their fighters had successfully taken control of the town, although these assertions remain unverified by independent sources.
Residents in the area offered conflicting reports. Hussein Nur, a local from nearby Moqokori town, relayed that the Somali government forces along with local militias had retreated to a small village outside of Adan Yabaal. He noted that fighters from Al-Shabaab were patrolling the streets, signaling a shift in control.
Another resident, Abdukadir Hassan, communicated updates regarding the aftermath of the clash, indicating that several wounded Somali soldiers were evacuated to Moqokori following the fighting. “The Somali army pulled out from Adan Yabaal, and some of their wounded were brought to Moqokori this afternoon,” he told reporters by telephone.
The history of Al-Shabaab’s control over Adan Yabaal dates back to before December 2022 when Somali government forces, with the help of AU troops, successfully recaptured the town during a significant offensive. The recent attack comes just weeks after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited the area, where he met military commanders to discuss ongoing operations against the insurgent group.
As fears of an Al-Shabaab resurgence grow, especially following their attempted attack on the president’s convoy in Mogadishu last March, uncertainties loom over the stability of the region, with local residents caught amidst the violence and military conflicts.
