By Horn Africa News
BELEDWEYNE – Senior Somali security officials in Beledweyne convened an emergency meeting on Saturday to assess the town’s fragile security situation amid growing concerns of instability in Hiraan region.
The meeting, held at the headquarters of the Somali National Army’s Fifth Battalion, brought together the Acting Commander of the 27th Division, Colonel Abdullahi Barre, and several other top security officers. The commanders reviewed the current state of security in Beledweyne and discussed urgent measures to prevent possible acts of violence and criminality.
The deliberations came after the militant group Al-Shabaab recently seized control of several key areas in Hiraan, heightening fears of renewed attacks and infiltration.
In recent days, Beledweyne has witnessed a spike in security-related incidents, raising alarm among residents. Locals have voiced growing concern that the town could once again slide into lawlessness if immediate action is not taken.
Since the beginning of this year, responsibility for securing Beledweyne has been fully handed over to government forces. The transfer brought relative calm after years in which heavily armed militias routinely terrorized the civilian population through robberies and extortion.
To build on these gains, security officials at Saturday’s meeting agreed to step up joint operations, tighten patrols, and introduce new preventive measures aimed at safeguarding public order in the city.
Authorities vowed to reassure residents that the government remains committed to stabilizing Beledweyne and ensuring that armed groups cannot exploit the situation.
