On Saturday, Somalia’s military repelled an attack by al-Shabab militants in the remote region of Galgadud, killing at least 18 of the jihadi fighters. However, at least three “traditional elders” were also killed in the fighting, according to General Mohamed Ahmed Taredisho, a top army official. The attack occurred near the town of Masagaway, which is home to a military base, and witnesses reported that the militants overran the base, confiscating weapons and burning battle wagons.
The central region of Galgadud has been the site of increased attacks by al-Shabab in recent months, as the group seeks to regain control of territories it has lost to government forces in rural areas. Al-Shabab, which has ties to al-Qaida, opposes the Somali federal government in Mogadishu and has fought for years to create an Islamic state in the country.
The ongoing conflict has been exacerbated by the worst drought in decades, which has left millions of people in Somalia facing severe food and water shortages. During a visit to the country earlier this month, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for “massive international support” to address the humanitarian crisis.
Despite the efforts of African Union peacekeepers and occasional U.S. airstrikes on al-Shabab targets, the group continues to pose a significant threat to stability in Somalia. The latest attack serves as a reminder of the ongoing violence and instability in the country, which has been wracked by conflict and political turmoil for decades.
