MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Heavily armed fighters from the militant group Al-Shabaab have “encircled” the town of Jowhar, located approximately 91 kilometers north of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, Shabelle TV reported on Saturday.
Jowhar serves as the capital of Hirshabelle State and is a critical regional administrative center.
UPDATE: Al-Shabaab militants have reportedly encircled Jowhar, a key town 91km north of Mogadishu. This comes just days after the group intensified attacks across the Middle Shabelle and Hiran regions. pic.twitter.com/CmttlIADnn
— Shabelle Media Network (@ShabelleMedia) March 1, 2025
In a related development, pro-government journalist Ali Adan Mumin reported early Saturday morning on his Facebook page that militants with dozens of military vehicles, had seized control of War-Eise, a town situated roughly 28 kilometers from Jowhar. Mumin also noted that the insurgents had severed supply routes between Biyo Adde and Rage Elle in the Middle Shabelle region, further consolidating their grip on the area.
Hours after Mumin’s report, Al-Shabaab claimed capturing Biyo Adde, a strategic town in the region. The group’s advance followed intense clashes with Somali security forces and allied clan militias.
This escalation comes just days after Al-Shabaab launched a series of coordinated, multi-front attacks across the Middle Shabelle and Hiran regions, retaking several towns and villages. The group’s recent gains have raised concerns about the stability of the region and the effectiveness of counter-insurgency efforts.
As of now, neither the Somali government nor Hirshabelle State authorities have issued official statements regarding these developments.
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