Fragile Frontline Near Mogadishu: How Somali Forces Are Holding Off Al-Shabaab

Fragile Frontline Near Mogadishu: How Somali Forces Are Holding Off Al-Shabaab

The helicopter pilot was visibly uneasy. He warned that staying longer than 20 minutes over this shattered frontline village could invite mortar fire from nearby Al-Shabaab fighters.

About 1,000 Somali National Army (SNA) troops, backed by an African Union contingent, are garrisoning Awdheegle, a strategic town roughly 35 miles (60 kilometres) from the capital, Mogadishu. The town was retaken less than seven weeks ago, but the grip on the area remains precarious.

The ageing helicopter — one of the few still operational in the SNA fleet — is an obvious target for insurgents just miles away. As the pilot told reporters before lifting off, "Five more minutes, and I would have left you." Returning residents describe a town reduced to rubble. "I found my house demolished. I have nothing to rebuild it," said Abdi Osman Hassan, 65.

How the frontline was cleared — and weakened

Drone and air strikes and heavy ground fire pushed militants out in June after fighters entrenched, dug tunnels and planted explosives. Retreating militants blew up the bridge linking the settlements of Sabiid and Canole, using so much dynamite that little remained to salvage. A replacement bridge, built with Turkish assistance, was recently completed under the supervision of a Ugandan army unit.

A Turkish contractor who spent a month on the frontline said supplies and basic comforts are often scarce. He warned that, without better coordination among external partners, reconstruction projects will remain at risk: "If the powers do not behave and talk to each other, then the bridge..." — he snapped his fingers to suggest another explosion — "right now, everyone is feeding the dogs of war."

A shrinking safety net

Somalia has battled Al-Shabaab since the mid-2000s. The SNA made notable gains in 2022–23, reclaiming about 200 towns and villages, but militants launched a fresh offensive this year and retook roughly 90% of that territory, including three vital bridges along the Shabelle River that are key access routes toward Mogadishu.

The country has long relied on multilateral African Union security forces funded mainly by Western donors. The current African Union mission, AUSSOM, began operations in January with a reported $92 million shortfall in its budget on top of an existing $100 million debt, leaving the SNA overstretched.

National security adviser Awes Hagi Yusuf acknowledged the challenges but said new bilateral partnerships with countries such as Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are helping to plug gaps. "The fight that we are doing, it's not confined and limited to Somalia. This is a global war," he said.

What civilians face

Even inside areas described as "liberated," civilians report insecurity and a lack of reconstruction support. Many have lost homes, abandoned farms and livelihood sources. "We are peasants, our houses were destroyed, and we have no help so far," said Muslimo Hassan Isaq, 56, who fled to the outskirts of Mogadishu and left her farm unattended for eight months. "I don't know where to start. We need to be looked at and cared for. I cannot rebuild myself."

Analysts warn that leaning on bilateral deals with neighbours like Kenya and Uganda — and partners such as Turkey and the UAE — may not deliver sustainable funding or long-term commitment. "There's a lot of kicking the ball to the next stage, hoping somebody else has to deal with it," said security analyst Samira Gaid. Ultimately, she says, "what matters is who stays longer and who provides some modicum of security and justice when they're in place."

Why this matters

The fragile frontline around Mogadishu highlights a broader dilemma: military advances are difficult to consolidate without sustained funding, political attention and civilian reconstruction. With donor support eroding and national politics focused on upcoming elections, the government's ability to hold and rebuild liberated areas faces a serious test — and civilians remain caught in the middle.