The Somali Army Regains the City of Bariri from Al-Shabaab After Bloody Battles

The Somali Ministry of Defense announced yesterday, Friday, that the Somali army, in cooperation with the African Union peacekeeping forces, has regained full control of the city of Bariri located in the Lower Shabelle region, after battles that lasted more than a week against fighters from Al-Shabaab linked to Al-Qaeda.

The city of Bariri is of great strategic importance, as it was home to a pivotal operational base for the Somali army before it fell into the hands of Al-Shabaab last March, following a sudden withdrawal of government forces without a fight.

In the aftermath of their control, the group's elements destroyed a major bridge used for military supply lines, exacerbating the security situation in the region.

In recent months, Al-Shabaab has intensified its attacks and managed to seize dozens of villages and cities, leading to the government losing the gains it achieved during its military campaign in 2022 and 2023.

At the beginning of August, the African Union Mission in Support of Stability in Somalia (AMISOM), in cooperation with the Somali army and Ugandan defense forces, launched a wide-ranging attack to regain the city of Bariri.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Defense, the operation resulted in the deaths of more than 100 Al-Shabaab fighters, while no losses were reported among the African Union or Somali army forces.

The ministry confirmed that security forces continue extensive combing operations in the city and its surrounding areas, noting the seizure of large quantities of weapons and ammunition that were in the possession of the group's elements.

Despite the widespread deployment of African Union forces—numbering over 10,000 soldiers in the country—Al-Shabaab continues to launch repeated attacks against government and international forces, the latest of which occurred last June when seven Ugandan soldiers were killed during violent clashes in the Lower Shabelle region.

The group has also claimed several significant attacks this year, including the bombing of an explosive device targeting the Somali president's convoy on March 18, and a mortar attack near the capital Mogadishu's airport in early April.

The recovery of the city of Bariri is a significant morale blow to Al-Shabaab and may restore momentum to the Somali government's campaign against the group; however, security challenges remain, amid ongoing terrorist threats in various parts of the country.