Eyewitnesses speaking to local media described scenes of fear and confusion as heavily armed Al-Shabaab fighters moved through the town, asserting their presence and control. Residents reported hearing bursts of heavy gunfire as the militants consolidated their hold on the area.

The latest reports indicate that the presence of Al-Shabaab is being increasingly felt in Hawadley, with frequent attacks and displays of military strength that have left the local population in a state of constant fear. Many residents expressed concern over the apparent ease with which the group advanced and the lack of resistance from government troops.

This development marks a worrying escalation in Al-Shabaab’s activities in the Middle Shabelle region, where they have been intensifying their campaign of violence and territorial expansion in recent months. Locals are now bracing for possible reprisals or stricter militant control, as the town remains under the group’s authority.

The Somali government has yet to release an official statement regarding the withdrawal of its forces or plans for a counter-offensive.

The post Al-Shabaab Militants Seize Control of Hawadley in Middle Shabelle Region appeared first on Kaab TV.

According to security officials in Jowhar, the soldiers were traveling from their base when their vehicle was ambushed by the rival clan Ma’awisley militia.

All six soldiers were killed at point-blank range, while a seventh soldier survived but remains unaccounted for.

Jalalaqsi District Commissioner Nuur Dheere confirmed the attack was likely clan-related, as the victims were targeted based on their clan identity.

All six slain soldiers were members of the Ma’awisley militia from the Hiiraan region who joined the Somali army in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

Hirshabelle State President Ali Abdullahi Hussein Guudlawe condemned the killings as a “brutal and un-Islamic act,” stating that it violated Somali cultural values and human rights.

“This heinous act goes against Islamic law, Somali morals, and human rights. I am ordering the security forces to bring the perpetrators to justice within 24 hours,” read a statement from the presidency.

Heightened Tensions

The incident has inflamed pre-existing tensions between the Hirshabelle State government and the Hiiraan clans.

El Baraf has been the center of ongoing clashes between Hawadle and Abgaal militias, and the attack has further destabilized the region.

On Friday, more than 250 Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers from the Hawadle clan vacated their base in Hawadley village, located 18 kilometers from Jowhar, the seat of the Hirshabelle state.

Hawadley serves as a key buffer zone for Jowhar, hosting Somali Army forces engaged in combating Al-Shabaab militants who control much of the surrounding region.

The withdrawal of the SNA soldiers from strategic positions pose significant risks to the security of Jowhar.

The withdrawal of Hawadle soldiers was a direct protest against the El Baraf incident.

Later Friday, Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency Director Abdullahi Mohamed Ali (Sanbalolshe) and SNA Infantry Commander Khalid Abdullahi arrived in Jowhar via a helicopter from Mogadishu.

Sanbalolshe, a member of the Hawadle clan, and Khalid Abdullahi, a former Al-Shabaab defector and ex-Jubaland intelligence commander who was later promoted to SNA infantry commander, are reportedly planning to visit Hawadley to defuse tensions and persuade Hawadle forces to return to their positions.

In Jowhar, Hirshabelle State President Guudlawe held an emergency meeting with advisers and elders from his clan on Friday afternoon.

Sources told our reporter the meeting aimed to address the unfolding crisis and explore ways to restore stability.

A source at the regional president’s office suggest that Abgaal clan elders, alongside Hirshabelle State officials, are attempting to offer diya (blood money) to the Hawadle clan for the six soldiers killed in El Baraf to settle down the crisis.

Meanwhile, the crisis is spreading beyond Middle Shabelle.

In Beledweyne, tax officials at the Hirshabelle revenue collection point in Bundo Weyne vacated their posts on Friday, handing the facility over to rival Hiiraan State.

This move was widely interpreted as a protest against the killings in El Baraf, but officials we spoke to are hoping to cool down the situation.

The post As Tensions Rise in Hirshabelle, SNA Soldiers Abandon Posts Over El Baraf Killing appeared first on Kaab TV.