MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s army chief said Wednesday that between 10,000 and 15,000 soldiers have been killed or disabled in the past three years of military operations against the extremist group Al-Shabaab – one of the highest tolls ever publicly acknowledged by the government.
General Odowa Yusuf Rageh told the Upper House of Parliament that the losses underscore the heavy cost of the ongoing conflict and urged lawmakers to boost the defense budget to ensure troops receive proper pay and support. His figures did not include casualties among allied clan militias and regional forces that have fought alongside the national army.
Somalia launched a major offensive against Al-Shabaab three years ago, initially reclaiming large areas of territory in the central states of Hirshabelle and Galmudug. The gains, however, have since eroded as the militants regrouped and recaptured much of the lost ground, halting the government’s momentum.
Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, addressing lawmakers alongside the army chief, said nearly 900 Al-Shabaab fighters, including commanders, were killed in 220 airstrikes carried out by Somalia’s international partners.
The figures reveal the scale of the challenges facing Somalia’s security forces as they attempt to contain one of Africa’s deadliest insurgencies. The government has rarely disclosed casualty numbers, but the newly released data highlight the staggering human toll of a military campaign that has struggled to sustain its early successes.
Despite significant international backing and U.N.-supported efforts to build a professional national army, Al-Shabaab continues to mount deadly attacks, overrun bases, and destabilize the conflict-torn Horn of Africa nation – a reminder that Somalia’s long war against extremism is far from over.
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