Wednesday 19,March 2025 {HMC} President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has travelled to the frontline town of Moqokori in the Hiiraan region, where he met with military commanders and Hirshabelle state leaders to assess ongoing operations against Al-Shabaab militants, officials said Wednesday.
Mohamud, who spent the night in Moqokori, held discussions with senior Somali National Army (SNA) officers and Hirshabelle Vice President over recent battlefield gains, operational challenges, and future military strategies. Officials briefed the president on the status of the counterterrorism campaign and underscored the significance of his presence in boosting troop morale.
The president commended the resilience of government forces and allied local militias, known as the Ma’awisley, who have been engaged in fierce battles to repel Al-Shabaab attacks. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining military support and ensuring troops remain on the offensive against the militant group.
Al-Shabaab has intensified attacks in the Hiiraan region in recent weeks, briefly seizing areas previously held by government forces and local fighters. The militants have been targeting military outposts to regain lost territory, prompting the government to escalate its counteroffensive.
The visit comes as the Somali National Army (SNA) intensifies counterterrorism operations, targeting Al-Shabaab’s rural hideouts in Middle Shabelle and other regions. According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the militants have suffered significant battlefield losses, forcing them to resort to desperate tactics, including an attempted attack on the president’s convoy in Mogadishu.
The attack, described as a “cowardly act of desperation” by officials, was thwarted, and the president arrived safely in Moqokori as planned. The explosion resulted in civilian casualties, though the government has yet to release an official toll.
President Mohamud is expected to continue his stay in the region, coordinating with military leaders on upcoming operations aimed at reclaiming Al-Shabaab-controlled areas and securing strategic positions.
