By Horn Africa News Staff | Mogadishu
In a powerful display of leadership and resolve, former Hiiraan regional governor Ali Jeyte Osman has launched a renewed offensive from Maxaas district, aimed at liberating Moqokori and nearby areas from Al-Shabaab control.
Speaking to the media, Jeyte confirmed that the Federal Government of Somalia has pledged full recognition and support to the Ma’awisley local defense forces, promising that their rights and entitlements will be fully honored during July.
“The government will cover all necessary expenses,” Jeyte affirmed. “What we ask from the people is to free the land from Al-Shabaab and expose those who shelter these extremists.”
The government has also committed to backing the families of the fighters, in a show of solidarity as communities rise against terrorism.
In a defiant message to the terror group and its backers, Jeyte declared:
“Moqokori was not taken by force, and we did not flee. If it falls, it will be the end of the Hawadle name. We won’t let that happen!”
The fresh mobilization comes as intense battles continue between Al-Shabaab and a combined force of Somali National Army troops and Ma’awisley fighters, with Moqokori becoming a focal point in the fight for central Somalia.
This latest operation signals a critical chapter in Somalia’s ongoing effort to reclaim territory and restore peace and security to regions long plagued by extremist violence.
Moqokori, a strategically important town in the central Hiraan region, has once again come under the control of Al-Shabaab, following intense clashes with Somali government forces and allied community fighters.
Al-Shabaab first captured Moqokori in 2016, and although they were driven out, the militants briefly regained control in 2018.
Now, in July 2025, the group has once again taken the town, signaling a major challenge to ongoing government efforts to stabilize the region. The loss comes amid a renewed military mobilization from Maxaas, where local defense forces — known as Ma’awisley — are organizing a counteroffensive with support from the federal government.
