Wednesday, July 2, 2025 — HAN
Mogadishu — The Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), working in close coordination with local forces from the Ma’awisley militia — a community defense group largely drawn from the Hawadle clan — has conducted a major security operation in the areas surrounding Moqokori district in the Hiiraan region. The operation targeted Al-Shabaab militants who had been using remote villages as hideouts and staging grounds for planned attacks.
According to Somali security officials, the operation was launched following intelligence that indicated extremist elements were regrouping and plotting attacks on civilians in peaceful, liberated communities. The militants were reportedly concentrating in Mabaax village in Hiiraan and Tawakal in Middle Shabelle. During the offensive, security forces killed several militants and destroyed multiple Al-Shabaab bases and positions.
This latest operation also served to dispel recent false reports that had caused unnecessary alarm among the local population. A news broadcast by the BBC Somali Service had earlier suggested that Al-Shabaab was on the verge of capturing Moqokori town following the withdrawal of Ma’awisley forces.
However, Somali officials have categorically rejected this claim, emphasizing that government and local forces remain firmly in control of the area. The BBC has since issued an apology for the inaccurate report.
The Ma’awisley militia, often described as a grassroots self-defense force, has played a significant role in Somalia’s ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab. In collaboration with national security agencies, Ma’awisley fighters have helped to liberate and secure communities across central Somalia.
Despite the challenges of clan dynamics and the complexities of local security arrangements, the partnership between Ma’awisley and NISA has been seen as a crucial element in recent gains against the insurgency.
Somali authorities have reiterated their commitment to maintaining security and stability in Moqokori and surrounding areas, urging residents to support national efforts by remaining vigilant and reporting any suspicious activities.
This operation refutes the false news that was broadcast by the BBC claiming that Al-Shabaab was about to take over the town of Moqokori after the Ma’awisley forces withdrew from the area, even though the BBC later apologized for that false report.
