Monday, July 7, 2025
Buloburte — (Horn Africa News) — Al-Shabaab militants have seized control of Moqokori town in Somalia’s Hiiraan region, following a deadly suicide bombing and sustained clashes that left local defense units overwhelmed. The capture of the town represents a major setback in the broader campaign to drive the militant group from central Somalia.
According to local sources, the assault began over the weekend with a coordinated attack from multiple directions. A suicide bomber detonated an explosive-laden vehicle at a key security checkpoint, paving the way for Al-Shabaab fighters to storm the town.
After hours of intense fighting, the militants overran Moqokori’s defenses and took control of vital installations, including the district administration headquarters.
Eyewitnesses told Horn Africa News that Al-Shabaab militants quickly fanned out across Moqokori, conducting house-to-house searches and establishing their presence. The majority of the town’s residents fled in the chaos, seeking safety in nearby villages and in the bush amid fears of reprisals and further bloodshed.
The Ma’awisley militia—local self-defense fighters drawn largely from the Hawadle clan—is now regrouping on the outskirts of the town. Local sources report that Ma’awisley leaders are urgently mobilizing reinforcements and weapons, vowing to launch a counteroffensive to retake Moqokori and surrounding villages from Al-Shabaab’s grip.
“The Ma’awisley fighters have been the backbone of the resistance against Al-Shabaab in Hiiraan,” said a local elder, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
“For over three years, they have fought to protect this land, even when other clans abandoned the struggle. But they cannot do it alone.”
Indeed, the loss of Moqokori highlights the challenges faced by local militias who have repeatedly called for greater support from the federal government. While Ma’awisley forces mounted a determined defense during the assault, residents and community leaders say promised reinforcements from government troops failed to materialize in time.
“The government’s failure to provide adequate support has emboldened Al-Shabaab,” said another resident. “The people of Hiiraan feel abandoned at a critical moment.”
Moqokori’s fall comes as Al-Shabaab intensifies its attacks across central Somalia, aiming to reclaim territory lost during joint government and community-led offensives over the past two years. The town’s capture is seen as a strategic gain for the militants, potentially allowing them to disrupt vital supply routes and strengthen their position in the region.
As the Ma’awisley forces prepare their counteroffensive, the coming days could prove decisive for the future of Moqokori — and for the wider effort to free Hiiraan from Al-Shabaab control.
