JALALAQSI (Kaab TV) – Over 200 soldiers from the Hawadle clan, who abandoned their Somali National Army (SNA) positions in the Middle Shabelle region, arrived in Jalalaqsi town, in central Somalia’s Hiiraan region, on Sunday night.
According to sources within the army, the withdrawal followed the execution of six Hawadle soldiers by a rival clan last Thursday in El Baraf.
Armed clan militia reportedly ambushed the soldiers in their vehicle before killing them at point-blank range.
In response, the Somali government dispatched Intelligence Director Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Sanbalolshe and the SNA Infantry Commander to Jowhar on Friday to address the situation.
Despite these efforts, soldiers stationed at Hawadley positions in Middle Shabelle began vacating their posts along the frontline with Al-Shabaab in protest over the killings.
A jubilant crowd greeted the arriving Hawadle forces in Jalalaqsi on Sunday evening.
Celebrations included loud music, gunfire into the air, and clapping by men and women lining the streets.
Hirshabelle President Ali Abdullahi Hussein Guudlaawe condemned the killings.
However, attempts to prevent the soldiers from leaving the frontline have so far proven unsuccessful.
There has yet to be any official comment from the Ministry of Defense or the Somali National Army command regarding the incident.