Some members of the local Macawiisley forces said they repelled Al-Shabaab attacks three times with strong resistance, but eventually withdrew from some areas where gunfire is still ongoing.

They have called on the Federal Government of Somalia to provide assistance and deploy reinforcements to support the local Macawiisley forces so they can return to their positions, as they stated.

The Middle Shabelle region is currently experiencing intensified military mobilization, with Federal Government forces and local Macawiisley fighters on one side, and Al-Shabaab, which has concentrated its forces in the area, on the other.

Meanwhile, airstrikes targeting locations where Al-Shabaab militants are believed to be hiding are also underway, according to various sources. The ongoing tension has had a negative impact on these areas over the past several days.

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The strike reportedly occurred near Moqokori, about 230 kilometers north of Mogadishu.

According to Abdi Hassan, a commander with the Hiiraan-based Ma’awisley militia, the strike hit a group of their fighters who were aligned with government forces in the fight against al-Shabaab.

“Twelve of our men were killed when the airstrike—likely carried out by a drone—hit our position,” he said.

The area has seen a surge in fighting between clan militias and al-Shabaab militants in recent weeks.

However, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) issued a statement on Wednesday (21 May) confirming an airstrike in the region but said it targeted al-Shabaab militants, not allied local forces.

The strike was carried out on May 17 near Mabaax, roughly 200 kilometers north of Mogadishu.

“Al-Shabaab has proven its intent and capability to attack U.S. forces,” AFRICOM stated. “AFRICOM, alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces, continues to take action to degrade al-Shabaab’s ability to plan and conduct attacks that threaten the U.S. homeland, our forces, and our citizens abroad.”

AFRICOM did not disclose details about casualties or the type of drone used, citing operational security.

Somali federal officials have not issued any statement regarding the reported deaths of the 12 militia members or the conflicting accounts surrounding the strike.

READ MORE: Rape and militia attack unleash fear and anger in Somalia’s Hiiraan province

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Speaking at the Prosecutors’ Conference in Mogadishu on Wednesday, Shuute noted that since the arming of Macawiisley militias began in 2022, their abuses have escalated, including attacks against government forces.

“The number of cases involving Macawiisley militias has risen significantly. Their violations have increased by 11%,” Colonel Shuute stated.

The Macawiisley militia is a clan-based armed group in central and southern Somalia, formed to defend local communities against Al-Shabaab.

Named after the traditional Somali “macawiis” wrap, they identify as civilian fighters rather than a formal military force.

Their activities escalated in 2022 when President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud openly backed their mobilization as part of a government-led offensive against Al-Shabaab, providing them with significant support in 2022 and 2023.

Mr. Shuute recalled that in 2022, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the Council of Ministers issued a directive requiring that cases involving Macawiisley be handled by the military court within three months.

“Since 2022, we have been dealing with this issue. I want to ask the Minister of Justice to find a solution so that this responsibility is removed from us,” Shuute said.

This is not the first time concerns have been raised about the Macawiisley militia.

Journalists and human rights activists have previously criticized the government’s decision to arm the clan-based militia, warning of abuses.

The rise in Macawiisley activities has been evident since their involvement in the 2022 war against Al-Shabaab.

Initially supported by government forces, the militia played a key role in the offensive, but the campaign later faltered, raising concerns over their conduct.

Atrocities attributed to the Macawiisley militia include sexual violence against women and girls, the burning of villages, and enforced disappearances in Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle, where much of the fighting took place.

In September 2022, a young man was beheaded, and another had his genitals mutilated by Macawiisley fighters after the former governor of Hiiraan, Ali Jeyte Osman, announced a $5,000 reward for anyone who brought the head of an Al-Shabaab fighter.

However, the militia allegedly began targeting unarmed civilians in pursuit of monetary rewards.

The post Abuses by Somali President’s Ally, Macawiisley Militia, Surge by 11% – Military Court Chief appeared first on Kaab TV.

On Thursday, February 23, 2023, shortly after noon prayer, the Ma’awisley militia launched a terrifying assault on the unsuspecting family, leaving them traumatized and terrified.

Eyewitness accounts reveal that three armed men, brandishing AK47 rifles, stormed into the small house, instilling fear in everyone present. As one man menacingly brandished a knife, the other two stood guard.

The violence escalated when one of the attackers forcibly dragged an 18-year-old pregnant woman, who will be referred to as ‘Asha’ to protect her identity. Despite her struggle, Asha was overpowered by the assailant, who proceeded to inflict wounds on her hand and thigh with his knife, causing her immense pain. In a heartbreaking interview with Kaab TV, Asha shared her harrowing experience, recounting how the assailant raped her before callously leaving her lying on the ground.

“I was pregnant and living with disability therefore I was brought at my mother’s place so that I can get assistance for my delivery,” said Asha, who was in her third trimester when she was raped.

Overwhelmed by the pain and trauma, Asha was unable to stand up until her family members transported her to the nearest local clinic, a distance of 12.5km (approximately 7.7 milies) from the village. She remained there for several days, thankfully giving birth to a healthy baby girl while under the care of a traditional midwife.

Asha vividly remembers the attackers, dressed in government military uniform, speaking the local accent. According to her, the Ma’awisley militia was led by the Jalalaqsi district commissioner, Nuur Dheere. Although Nuur Dheere visited Asha in the clinic, promising to apprehend the militia men responsible for the heinous act, no arrests have been made to date.

Disturbingly, this incident is not an isolated case. Widespread reports of rape, torture, looting, beheadings and violence against civilians have plagued the Hiiraan region, leaving its residents in a state of fear and vulnerability. Additional incidents include the rape of a 12-year-old girl from the minority Makanne community on the outskirts of El Jaalle, near Beledweyne city, and the rape of a 50-year-old mother from the Baadi Cadde community in Buur Weyn, as corroborated by reports from local health workers.

Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, a freelance journalist and the secretary general of the Somali Journalists Syndicate, who investigated these incidents, expressed concern over the need to protect and save girls and mothers, emphasizing the importance of accountability for those responsible. “Anyone who committed these crimes must be held to account,” Mr. Mumin wrote.

However, Somali government officials have remained silent, failing to respond to inquiries regarding these horrifying events in Hiiraan.

Mohamed Qasim who is the deputy commissioner of Jalalaqsi said he met the victim at the clinic, where her harrowing ordeal was painfully evident. “Despite our knowledge of the identity of the rapists, shockingly, no action has been taken. As a government official who has been in this position for only seven months, I have tirelessly attempted to bring the perpetrators to justice, but unfortunately, all of these efforts have proved futile,” expressed Qasim.

The people of the Hiiraan region, having previously endured relentless attacks by the al-Shabaab extremist group, had placed their hopes in the government forces and local militias for protection.

However, recent events have shattered this trust, leaving the local communities feeling abandoned. In response, men in the affected villages are now organizing to arm themselves, forming a new resistance against the rapist militia that operates alongside government forces.

The Somali government has previously touted its combined efforts with the Somali army, clan militias, and international partners, such as the United States and Turkey, to eradicate the presence of al-Shabaab in central Somalia. While some initial successes were achieved, human rights groups and security experts have cautioned against the government’s reliance on unregulated clan militias, warning that it could result in even worse violations against the civilian population than those committed by al-Shabaab.

The recent attack in Bilaal village has not only exposed the vulnerability of the people in Hiiraan region but also highlighted the urgent need for swift action, accountability, and an overhaul of security measures to protect innocent lives and restore faith in the government’s ability to ensure safety and justice.

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