The mass defection took place in Xawaadley, a strategic town located approximately 50 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu.

The armed men, most of them belonging to the Jareer Weyne clan, were welcomed by Al-Shabaab fighters and reportedly handed over their weapons in exchange for cash and amnesty.

A Somali security officer based in Jowhar, who is familiar with the situation, confirmed the incident.

“Al-Shabaab contacted them and offered a deal—cash in return for their guns. The group also granted them amnesty upon surrender,” said the officer.

The surrendering fighters were reportedly part of the Afjar Brigade in Middle Shabelle.

Sources say many among the Jareer Weyne militia had been experiencing severe shortages of food and water and felt abandoned by the government forces they had been supporting.

Their disillusionment was further aggravated by long-standing grievances over marginalization and recent political tensions.

One key factor cited by the community was the death of General Sheegow Ahmed Ali, a Jareer Weyne military officer who was arrested by Hawiye clan-affiliated soldiers in Mogadishu in late 2023.

He died in government custody in April 2024, an incident that triggered widespread protests in the capital and deepened ethnic divisions within Somalia’s security forces.

The Somali Ministry of Defense has not issued a statement regarding Saturday’s surrender.

Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the event, announcing through its media channels that it had received government troops and clan militiamen in Xawaadley.

The group stated that it had launched a “dawra” (religious re-education seminar) for the new defectors—a process often used by the militants to indoctrinate and recruit captured fighters.

Al-Shabaab did not specify the number of people who surrendered.

Xawaadley, a town of significant strategic value along the corridor between Mogadishu and Jowhar, fell into Al-Shabaab control in early June 2025 after Burundian troops from the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) withdrew due to severe flooding.

READ: Al-Shabaab Displays Downed AU Helicopter After Capturing Village Northeast of Mogadishu

The town had previously served as a Forward Operating Base (FOB) for both AU forces and Somali government troops tasked with preventing militant advances toward Mogadishu and the Hirshabelle state capital.

The fall of Xawaadley is part of a broader trend of military setbacks for the Somali government.

In recent months, Al-Shabaab has seized key towns and villages across Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle, and Hiiraan regions.

Government forces and allied clan militias have abandoned numerous positions, with internal reports blaming widespread corruption and logistical failures for the continued losses.

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According to Omar Abdukadir, a commander of the Hawadle forces, their fighters killed Nur Abdi Roble, a 47-year-old mid-level al-Shabaab leader who had been commanding militant operations in central Somalia.

“Today we engaged in another intense battle with the terrorist group,” Abdukadir said. “By the grace of God, our fighters killed Nur Abdi Roble, who was leading the al-Shabaab militia in the region.”

He also emphasized that the Somali federal government played no role in the operation. The confrontation follows several days of fighting in the area.

Last week, al-Shabaab launched coordinated suicide car bomb attacks on Ma’awisley positions in Ceel Hareeri and Moqokori, killing dozens of clan fighters in an effort to breach their defenses.

The Somali national army had recently withdrawn from parts of the Hiiraan region, leaving the local militia to confront the militant group alone.

Former Minister Abdullahi Godah Barre criticized the federal government’s lack of support, saying, “The people of Hiiraan are fighting alone without any support from Mogadishu.”

Meanwhile, African Union forces recently withdrew from Xawaadley town, located about 50 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu.

The pullback allowed al-Shabaab to regain control of the area.

Government and allied clan forces loyal to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud have also reportedly retreated from much of the Middle Shabelle region, effectively ceding control to the militants.

President Mohamud has come under scrutiny following reports of secret talks with al-Shabaab.

He recently reappointed Mahad Mohamed Salad as head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), a figure alleged to have longstanding ties to the terror group.

In a related development, Abdullahi Mohamed Ali “Sanbalolshe,” a prominent figure from the Hawadle clan and former intelligence chief, was dismissed from his post—fueling speculation over internal divisions within the government.

READ: Chaos and Looting Follow African Union Troop Withdrawal in Somalia’s Xawaadley, Allowing Al-Shabaab Takeover

The post Hawadle Clan Militia Kills Senior al-Shabaab Commander in Central Somalia appeared first on Kaab TV.

Local security officer Abdullahi Ibrahim told reporters that the looters stormed the town’s only Maternal and Child Health (MCH) center, taking medical supplies, a power generator, and an ambulance provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

A video shared by local sources shows the moment young men and women rushed into the MCH facility and emptied it, taking everything inside just shortly before Al-Shabaab fighters entered the town.

A resident later confirmed that Al-Shabaab, now in control of Xawaadley, returned the ambulance to the MCH center—but the town remains firmly under their rule.

#Somalia Update: Local residents in Xawaadley, #Middle Shabelle, looted the only MCH (Maternal and Child Health) center in the area, taking all the medicines and the facility’s power generator.
A video shows the moment people scrambled into the MCH.

Local officials also… pic.twitter.com/VP2ZGY77eY

— Kaab TV (@KaabTV) June 4, 2025

Looting was also reported at the Burundian forces’ base in Xawaadley, where both residents and militants took food, fuel, and other supplies after troops vacated the site.

As Burundian forces evacuated, a AUSSOM helicopter crash-landed near Xawaadley during an emergency mission to extract personnel.

The incident came amid reports of an imminent Al-Shabaab assault on the area.

In a statement issued Tuesday, AUSSOM confirmed that the helicopter suffered a technical malfunction, but its crew managed to land safely without casualties.

“During the evacuation on Monday, one of the helicopters experienced a technical malfunction. However, despite this challenge, the pilots skilfully manoeuvred the aircraft to land safely,” read the AU mission’s statement.

Despite that, images from the crash site show Al-Shabaab militants atop the aircraft, which appears intact and undamaged by fire.

Locals said the militants looted equipment from the helicopter, and the status of the pilots remains unclear.

“Even if the pilots landed the helicopter, why did they do it here—in an area controlled by Al-Shabaab? And where are the pilots now?” asked Ibrahim Nur, a district elder who fled Xawaadley after the militant takeover.

Former Hirshabelle president Ali Abdullahi Osoble criticized explanations given for the withdrawal, particularly claims of flooding in the area.

“Xawaadley is not near the river. I don’t understand what kind of flooding is in Xawaadley,” Osoble said, suggesting the withdrawal lacked valid justification.

Security sources confirmed that Burundian troops requested emergency extraction after intelligence warned of a major Al-Shabaab offensive.

Somali forces and allied clan militias also retreated, allowing militants to advance unchallenged.

The Somali federal government has yet to issue an official response regarding the fall of Xawaadley.

However, Defense Minister Ahmed Fiqi acknowledged the ongoing operational challenges faced by Somali forces.

“The Somali government forces lack sufficient ammunition and weapons. Therefore, we request additional support from the international community to continue our fight against Al-Shabaab,” said Minister Fiqi.

The post Chaos and Looting Follow African Union Troop Withdrawal in Somalia’s Xawaadley, Allowing Al-Shabaab Takeover appeared first on Kaab TV.

The helicopter, belonging to the Burundian contingent of AUSSOM, crash-landed during an emergency evacuation operation amid reports of an impending Al-Shabaab attack on the area in the Middle Shabelle area.

In a statement released on Tuesday, June 3, AUSSOM confirmed that the helicopter experienced a technical malfunction but was brought down safely by the pilots.

“During the evacuation on Monday, one of the helicopters experienced a technical malfunction. However, despite this challenge, the pilots skilfully manoeuvred the aircraft to land safely,” the AUSSOM statement said, adding that all troops and crew were safely evacuated to the nearest military base and that no casualties were reported.

However, photos from the scene show armed Al-Shabaab militants—affiliated with Al-Qaeda—standing atop the downed helicopter.

The aircraft, which appears largely intact and shows no signs of fire damage, suggests a controlled crash landing.

Local residents in Xawaadley told reporters that the militants seized equipment from the helicopter, and the fate of its occupants remains unclear.

“Even if the pilots landed the helicopter, why did they do it here—in an area controlled by Al-Shabaab? And where are the pilots now?” asked Ibrahim Nur, a district elder from Xawaadley who fled the village for his safety following the militant takeover.

What Happened in Xawaadley?

A Somali security official confirmed that Burundian forces stationed in Xawaadley had requested an emergency evacuation early Monday after receiving intelligence about an imminent Al-Shabaab attack.

Somali government troops and allied clan militias reportedly withdrew from the area, allowing Al-Shabaab fighters to advance and capture the village as AUSSOM troops evacuated in haste.

One of the helicopters involved in the operation crash-landed during the evacuation.

Following the militant takeover, residents and Al-Shabaab fighters reportedly looted the Burundian base, taking food supplies, fuel, equipment, and items from the crashed helicopter.

The Somali federal government has not officially commented on the incident. However, in a separate statement, Defense Minister Ahmed Fiqi acknowledged the challenges faced by government forces.

“The Somali government forces lack sufficient ammunition and weapons. Therefore, we request additional support from the international community to continue our fight against Al-Shabaab,” Minister Fiqi said.

The post Al-Shabaab Displays Downed AU Helicopter After Capturing Village Northeast of Mogadishu appeared first on Kaab TV.

The village, situated in the Middle Shabelle region, is of strategic importance as it lies along the corridor between Mogadishu and Jowhar.

It had served as a Forward Operating Base (FOB) for the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), as well as a key defensive position for the Somali National Army (SNA) to prevent militant advances toward the capital and the state capital of Hirshabelle.

Local residents said heavily armed Al-Shabaab fighters entered the village Monday afternoon, hours after Burundian troops under AUSSOM withdrew due to rising floodwaters.

In a statement, AUSSOM confirmed the evacuation:

“Burundian troops stationed at Xawaadley Forward Operating Base, northeast of the capital, Mogadishu, have been safely evacuated due to heavy flooding in the area.”

The mission further disclosed that one of the helicopters involved in the evacuation experienced a technical malfunction but was able to land safely without incident.

“All troops and crew have been successfully evacuated to the nearest military base, and no casualties have been reported,” the statement added.

Kareem Adebayo, the Acting Special Representative of the African Union Commission Chairperson (SRCC) for Somalia said the Burundian soldiers were swiftly evaluated.

“We commend the swift action of the AUSSOM Burundian troops during the delicate operation and reaffirm our continued support to the people and the Federal Government of Somalia in mitigating the effects of the flooding.”

Following the troop withdrawal, Al-Shabaab militants reportedly took control of both the AU and Somali military installations in Xawaadley.

The takeover has caused panic in nearby Jowhar town — the administrative capital of Hirshabelle State — with sources telling Kaab TV that Hirshabelle President Ali Abdullahi Hussein has recently vacated the presidential palace in Jowhar due to security concerns and is currently in Mogadishu.

With Jowhar located just 90 kilometers from the capital, the fall of Xawaadley raises alarm over the potential disruption of civilian and commercial movement along the vital Mogadishu–Jowhar route.

Residents report that Al-Shabaab fighters have already begun setting up roadblocks and patrolling surrounding rural areas.

The post Al-Shabaab Captures Strategic Village Near Mogadishu After AU Troop Withdrawal Amid Flooding appeared first on Kaab TV.