Reports from the outskirts of Mogadishu indicate that Al-Shabaab fighters moved into areas near Carbiska on Thursday morning after Somali government forces withdrew from positions they had been holding in the area.
According to local sources, government troops pulled out of the village of Basra on Wednesday following several days of fighting between Somali security forces and Al-Shabaab militants.
The clashes had been part of ongoing military operations aimed at preventing the group from expanding its presence in areas surrounding the capital.
Residents and security sources reported that government forces stationed around Basra and the nearby Carbiska area along the Afgooye corridor retreated toward Dayniile district early Thursday.
The withdrawal is said to have enabled Al-Shabaab to take control of several locations between Basra and Carbiska without facing significant resistance, as no major fighting was reported in the areas vacated by government troops.
The security situation remains unclear and highly fluid. Residents living near Basra and Carbiska have expressed concern over the sudden shift in control and the potential impact on local security.
Security officials described the situation as tense, noting that the exact positions of both government forces and Al-Shabaab fighters have yet to be fully verified.
The Federal Government of Somalia has not yet issued an official statement confirming whether Al-Shabaab has taken full control of all areas between Basra and Carbiska.
The latest developments come amid intensified military operations and recurring clashes in communities surrounding Mogadishu.
Basra and the wider Lower Shabelle region have witnessed repeated battles in recent months as Somali government forces, supported by local allies, continue efforts to weaken Al-Shabaab’s presence near the capital.
Control of areas along the Afgooye-Mogadishu corridor is considered strategically important because the route serves as a key link between Mogadishu and much of southern Somalia.