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  • The Somali Wire 422
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Somalia (43) Al Shabaab (37) Villa Somalia (34) Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (26) Farmaajo (24) Somalia politics (18) Puntland (17) Somalia elections (17) Mogadishu (16) Ethiopia (16) Somalia political crisis (15) Somaliland (13) Jubaland (10) Mohamed Hussein Roble (8) Somalia crisis (8) Somali politics (8) NISA (8) Fahad Yasin (8) AUSSOM (7) Abiy Ahmed (7) Somali opposition (7) Somali elections (7) Somalia security (7) Tigray (7) Eritrea (7) Kenya (7) Sudan (6) SSC-Khaatumo (6) African Union (6) Somalia drought crisis (6) TPLF (6) Amhara (6) Horn of Africa (6) Addis (6) USAID (5) Nairobi (5) OLA (5) Somalia elections 2021 (5) HSM (5) Horn of Africa geopolitics (5) Somali culture (5) Somalia elections 2022 (5) South Sudan (5) Politics (5) Humanitarian (4) Kenya Somalia relations (4) Conflict (4) US (4) Healthcare (4) China (4) Somali National Army (4) Somalia humanitarian crisis (4) PM Roble (4) Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (4) Federalism (4) Oromo Liberation Army (4) History (4) Poetry (4) Disarmament (3) Fano (3) Federal Government (3) Women (3) Security (3) OPOV (3) GERD (3) Elections (3) Fighting (3) RSF (3) Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo (3) Qatar (3) Gulf (3) Mogadishu bombing 2022 (3) Somali security forces (3) National Salvation Forum (3) Troop Contributing Countries (3) Villa Somalia crisis (3) Mogadishu unrest (3) Somalia electoral crisis (3) Laas Aanood (3) Turkey Somalia relations (3) Mohammed Roble (3) Diaspora (3) Madoobe (3) Oromo Liberation Front (3) OLF (3) Oromo (3) Awdheegle (3) UPDF (3) SNA (3) Operation Silent Storm (3) Horn of Africa drought (3) Economy (3) NCC (3) Ethiopia Somalia relations (3) UN (3) Somalia security crisis (3) ISS (3) Hawiye (3) Somali women in politics (3) UAE (3) Oromia (3) Horn of Africa politics (3)
  • Published November 30, 2022

    In early November, Al‑Shabaab launched two successful assaults on Qayib, a village in Somalia’s Galgaduud region, within just 17 days. The militants overran Somali National Army (SNA) and Ma’awisley militia positions, seizing weapons, vehicles, and other resources before retreating. Similar tactics were used weeks earlier in Yasoman, Hiiraan region, where Al‑Shabaab ambushed reinforcements sent to reclaim lost positions. These hit‑and‑run raids reveal gaps in the government’s operational strategy, as forces remain focused on holding towns while leaving rural areas and supply routes vulnerable. Without secure supply lines, recently liberated areas risk falling back under militant control, eroding public trust. Analysts warn that to counter this, the SNA and Ma’awisley must increase mobility, leverage local terrain knowledge, and pursue retreating militants to disrupt future attacks. Al‑Shabaab avoids direct confrontation, preferring to overstretch and exhaust government forces. Opening multiple offensive fronts could force the group to concentrate only on its strongholds, such as Jilib. Intelligence‑driven planning, clear objectives, troop rotation, and sustained pressure are key to preventing Al‑Shabaab from regaining momentum. Without a shift in strategy, these recurrent rural offensives could undermine Somalia’s broader counterterrorism gains.

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