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Ma'awisley
Ma'awisley () are a collection of clan-based militias based in central Somalia, primarily active in the states of Hirshabelle and Galmudug. Formed as a grassroots response to the militant group al-Shabaab, they have emerged as a critical, albeit controversial, force in Somalia’s counter-insurgency efforts. Their role has expanded significantly since 2022, with the Somali government increasingly relying on them to reclaim territories under al-Shabaab control. Overview Named after sarongs (ma'awis) that the militia fighters wear, the Ma'awisley (lit. "The Wearers of Ma'awis") originated as loosely organized community defense groups in rural central Somalia, spontaneously mobilizing organically to resist al-Shabaab’s excessive demands for taxation and recruits. The Ma'awisley are primarily made up of farmers and herders, with most of them having no prior formal military training, and number about 8,000-10,000 fighters. Their efforts gained structure through government support, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2025 Shabelle Offensive
The 2025 Shabelle offensive (, ), also known as Operation Ramadan (, ), is an ongoing military campaign in central Somalia, primarily in the Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle and Hiran, Somalia, Hiran regions, with periodic clashes in the Banaadir region. The offensive was launched by Jihadism, jihadist militant group Al-Shabaab (militant group), al-Shabaab against the Somali National Army (SNA), African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) forces, and allied Ma'awisley clan militias. The group seeks to encircle the capital, Mogadishu, and regain territory lost in the 2022 Somali government / African Union offensive, particularly strategic towns and supply routes. The offensive began on 20 February 2025, with coordinated attacks on multiple Somali military positions, which included ground assaults using car bombs. Al-Shabaab temporarily seized several towns before being repelled by government and allied militia forces. Subsequent attacks in late February tar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hilowle Gaab Attack
On January 6, 2023, al-Shabaab militants attacked the town of Hilowle Gaab, which had recently been recaptured by Somali forces. Over 20 people were killed in the attack, including several Somali commanders. Prelude Somali forces launched an offensive against al-Shabaab in late 2022, with the aid of the Ma'awisley militia. The offensive captured several key towns and villages in Hirshabelle State, including Hilowle Gaab, which had been under al-Shabaab control for years prior. In late 2022, the Somali military captured Runirgod, the last major al-Shabaab stronghold in the region. That same week, Hilowle Gaab was captured. A day prior to the attack on Hilowle Gaab, al-Shabaab attacked the city of Mahas The Mahas () are a sub-group of the Nubian people located in Southern Egypt and Northern Sudan along the banks of the Nile. For millennia, the Mahas tribe had resided in the region that constitutes present day north Sudan. Little arable land and ..., killing over 35 people ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Somali Civil War (2009–present)
The Somali Civil War (2009–present) (; ) is the List of ongoing military conflicts, ongoing phase of the Somali Civil War which is concentrated in southern and central Somalia. It began in late January 2009 with the present conflict mainly between the forces of the Federal Government of Somalia assisted by African Union peacekeeping troops and Al-Shabaab (militant group), al-Shabaab militants who pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda during 2012. During the insurgency that followed the 2006 War in Somalia (2006–2009), Ethiopian invasion of Somalia, al-Shabaab rose to prominence and made major territorial gains. Several weeks before the end of the military occupation, Islamist insurgents had seized most of the south and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was on the verge of collapse. In early 2009, Ethiopian troops withdrew from Somalia and former Islamic Courts Union leader Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Sharif Ahmed was elected president TFG, marking a new phase of the civil war. Al-Shaba ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Adan Yabal District
Adan Yabal District () is a district in the southeastern Middle Shabelle (Shabeellaha Dhexe) region of Somalia Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th .... Adan Yabaal was established in 1942. History SNA forces and Ma'awisley militia captured Adan Yabal from Al-Shabaab in 2022. On 16 April 2025, Al-Shabaab seized the town from the government forces. References External links Districts of SomaliaAdministrative map of Adan-Yabal District Districts of Somalia Middle Shabelle {{Somalia-geo-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gulane
Gulane () is a town in the southeastern Middle Shabelle (Shabeellaha Dhexe) region of Somalia. It is the town where many Macawisley, a name for local volunteers for war against Shabab call home, including one of the most famous leaders of this volunteer group called Hibad Ali Dasar, who died while fighting against Shabab in Middle Shabelle. Somali Civil War On 19 March 2025 Al-Shabaab captured Gulane town, lifting a three-year-long siege on its strongholds in the central regions of Galgadud and Mudug Mudug () is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in north-central Somalia. The population of Mudug is 131,455 as of 2005. Overview Physiographically, Mudug is bordered to the west by Ethiopia, to the north and south by the Somali regions of Nu .... References Gulane, Somalia Populated places in Middle Shabelle {{Somalia-geo-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2024 El Dher Attack
On June 8, 2024, Al-Shabaab militants attacked four military bases and overran the town of El Dher for several hours, killing many soldiers of the Somali National Force. The militants were eventually defeated by a U.S.-assisted airstrike. This was the deadliest terrorist attack since the Aws Wayne debacle. Background For months, security observers believed Al-Shabaab was going to attack El-Dher and Harardhere as both towns host forward operating bases. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited both towns in early April to show solidarity with the forces. Al-Shabaab had previously attacked Harardhere in late April, but government troops repulsed that attack and inflicted losses on Al-Shabaab. Attack The attack on El Dher began at pre-dawn around 4 am local time on Saturday with Al-Shabaab employing three suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices ( SVBIEDs) to breach the defenses of the Somali National Army bases. The initial assault caused confusio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
El Baraf
Ceel baraf (El baraf) is a town and district in the Middle Shabelle, Somalia. It is a transportation hub at the junction of roads and had been effectively controlled by the Hirshabele until the 2025 Shabelle offensive. Inhabitants The inhabitants are predominantly Agoonyar Gaabane, a branch of the Abgaal, a branch of the Hawiye clan. They are in conflict with the Hawaadle, another branch of the Hawiye clan, who live in a neighboring village. History In June 2002, the forces of Muhammad Umar Habeb of the Warsangali clan attacked El Baraf. El Baraf was controlled by the warlords of Dahir Dayah, then Minister of Interior of the Transitional National Government of Somalia. In February 2008, a struggle between Hawaadle and Abgaal, a branch of the Hawiye clan, set the stage for fighting in Qoryale and El Baraf. The clashes displaced hundreds of families and thousands of people. The inhabitants of the Hawaadle clan took refuge in Jalalaqsi and those of the Abgaal clan in Mahaday. Ru ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Galmudug
Galmudug (; ), officially Galmudug State of Somalia (), is a States and regions of Somalia, Federal Member State in central Somalia, with its capital at Dhusamareb. It is bordered to the north by the Puntland state of Somalia, to the west by the Somali Region in Ethiopia, to the east by the Indian Ocean and to the south by the Hirshabelle state of Somalia. Consisting of the Galgaduud region and Mudug region, Galmudug's name is derived from a conflation of the names of the two regions. Galmudug is a federal state within the larger Somalia, Federal Republic of Somalia, as defined by the Constitution of Somalia, provisional constitution of Somalia. Location Galmudug is the most centrally located area in Somalia. It is situated about 750 km from Mogadishu, Bosaso and Harar in Ethiopia. The region is bordered to the east by the Indian Ocean, to the west by Ethiopia, to the north by Puntland, and to the south by the Hirshabelle State, Hirshabelle. History The autonomous Galmudug r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hiran, Somalia
Hiran (, ) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in central Somalia and part of the Hirshabelle State. Overview Hiran is bordered by the Somali Region of Ethiopia (or the 1908 Convention Line) to the northwest, the Somali provinces of Galgudud to the northeast, Middle Shebelle (Shabeellaha Dhexe) to the south, Lower Shebelle (Shabellaha Hoose) to the southwest, and Bay and Bakool to the west. It is approximately 31,510 km2. The Shebelle River flows into Hiran from Ethiopia, coursing through the provincial capital of Beledweyne. Districts According to the Somalia government's classification, Hiran Region consists of three districts: # Beledweyne District # Buloburde District # Jalalaqsi District # Buq Aqable District # Mataban District # Mahas District In May 2012, Governor Hiran appointed new governors for Mahas and Mataban Districts. In August 2017, the Hirshabelle State, inaugurated the previous year, declared that where Hiran had previously had five ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
