Somali Army Commander Visits Bariire, Vows to Eliminate Remaining Al-Shabaab Hideouts

Somali Army Commander Visits Bariire, Vows to Eliminate Remaining Al-Shabaab Hideouts

Mogadishu – September 9, 2025 —The Commander of the Somali National Army (SNA) Land Forces, Brigadier General Sahal Abdullahi Omar, visited Bariire in the Lower Shabelle region on Tuesday to assess security operations and inspect newly rebuilt infrastructure.

During his tour, Gen. Sahal inspected the Bariire bridge, which was recently reconstructed by the national forces to restore movement and support military logistics in the area. He also met with SNA officers and African Union Support to Somalia Mission (AUSSOM) counterparts deployed in the region.

According to the army command, the visit was part of ongoing oversight of Operation Silent Storm, the government’s current campaign to weaken Al-Shabaab’s operational presence in southern Somalia. The commander thanked soldiers for their “sacrifice and commitment,” emphasizing their role in securing liberated areas and enabling reconstruction.

Gen. Sahal said the operation was “progressing with momentum” and pledged that remaining Al-Shabaab hideouts in Lower Shabelle would be “cleared in the coming days.” Military officials have described Bariire as a strategic location, linking key routes south of Mogadishu and serving as a stronghold for Al-Shabaab before government forces regained control.

Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked armed group, has waged a 17-year insurgency against Somalia’s internationally recognized government, carrying out attacks in Mogadishu and across the Horn of Africa. Somali forces, backed by African Union troops and international partners, have intensified operations in the past two years, regaining territory in Hirshabelle, Galmudug, and South West states.

Operation Silent Storm, launched earlier this year, is part of Somalia’s broader security transition, which aims to transfer full responsibility from African Union forces to the SNA by the end of 2024. Officials say rebuilding infrastructure such as bridges and supply routes is critical for both civilian life and the army’s mobility.

Security analysts caution, however, that Al-Shabaab remains capable of mounting counterattacks, often relying on roadside bombs and targeted assassinations. In recent weeks, the group has claimed responsibility for ambushes in southern regions, underscoring the continued challenge facing Somali and allied forces.

The Somali government has vowed to press ahead with its campaign, pairing military action with efforts to provide services and governance in liberated areas. In his remarks, Gen. Sahal reiterated that the SNA “will not stop until every hideout of the terrorists is dismantled.”

Tuesday’s visit to Bariire was seen by officials as both a morale boost for frontline soldiers and a signal of confidence in the army’s ability to hold and stabilize newly reclaimed territory.