Former President Blames Federal Government for Security Collapse in Mahaas
Mogadishu, July 28, 2025 — Horn Daily
Al-Shabaab militants have recaptured the strategic central Somali town of Mahaas in the Hiiraan region, following intense fighting with Somali government forces and allied local militias. The clash, which unfolded on Sunday, comes nearly a year after Ethiopian troops stationed in the town withdrew, transferring their base to Somali forces as part of the African Union’s ATMIS drawdown plan.
Mahaas, located approximately 300 kilometers north of Mogadishu, serves as a key logistical and transportation link in the region. Its loss represents a major setback for Somalia’s counterterrorism campaign.
Local media outlets reported that the Somali National Army (SNA) has confirmed the fall of Mahaas, describing it as a “tactical retreat.” Residents quoted by BBC Somali described a coordinated Al-Shabaab assault that began with suicide bombers and was followed by ground fighters, leading to multiple casualties. Somalia’s Ministry of Defense released a short statement claiming that government and allied forces had inflicted losses on the attackers, though it did not release specific casualty figures.
In the wake of the town’s fall, Puntland’s regional government issued a strong condemnation of the attack. It offered condolences to the families of those killed, particularly the Somali security forces, and expressed deep concern over Al-Shabaab’s ongoing efforts to retake previously liberated areas.
“The militant group is now not only reclaiming old positions, but also expanding into new strategic zones,” Puntland warned, calling the situation a dangerous turning point in Somalia’s fragile security landscape.
Puntland urged all Federal Member States to immediately join forces in crafting a unified and practical counterinsurgency strategy. The statement reaffirmed Puntland’s willingness to play a leading role in national counterterrorism operations and called on international partners to deliver meaningful support to strengthen Somalia’s security infrastructure.
Former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed also weighed in on the crisis. In a statement released Monday, he sharply criticized the federal government for failing to maintain control of towns like Mahaas that had been retaken from Al-Shabaab in earlier offensives.
“The loss of Mahaas is not just a territorial defeat—it is a serious lapse in leadership,” Sheikh Sharif said, warning that continued failures to secure recaptured towns pose an existential threat to national security.
Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked insurgent group, has mounted a resurgence in recent months, retaking dozens of towns and villages across central and southern Somalia. Many of these gains reverse the progress made during the major government-led offensives in 2022 and 2023, when Somali forces, supported by local militias and international partners, reclaimed significant swaths of territory from the group.
Security analysts say the militant group has capitalized on the gradual withdrawal of African Union peacekeeping forces and gaps in coordination among Somali federal and regional institutions.
The fall of Mahaas may signal a broader trend: a shift in momentum that threatens to undermine years of hard-fought gains. As Al-Shabaab continues to expand its footprint, pressure is mounting on Somalia’s federal leadership to reassess its security approach and respond with urgency before more ground is lost.