RUUN-NIRGOOD, Somalia – Somali government troops, backed by local Macawiisley militias, wrested control of the strategic town of Ruun-nirgood from Al-Shabaab militants in the Middle Shabelle region on Monday, officials said, in a fresh blow to the Islamist group.
The dawn offensive saw soldiers and heavily armed clansmen storm the town, a longtime Al-Shabaab bastion, destroying militant hideouts and bases, a military source told HornLife on condition of anonymity. “The town is ours now,” a Somali National Army spokesperson in Mogadishu confirmed, adding that efforts were underway to secure it.
Residents described a morning of chaos, with gunfire and explosions echoing through Ruun-nirgood until Somali forces hoisted the national flag by midday—a symbolic triumph after previous retreats under Al-Shabaab pressure. This time, the victory seems to stick, with troops and militias already pushing towards Hilowle Gaab, a nearby village, to widen their grip.
The operation is part of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s all-out war on Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda-linked group that has plagued Somalia for nearly 20 years. Leading the charge in Middle Shabelle are top figures like the army chief, military court head, and HirShabelle leader Ali Gudlawe, who called the militia alliance “crucial” to freeing locals from militant rule.
The region remains on edge, with military activity intensifying as the government vows to stop Al-Shabaab from clawing back lost ground. In Ruun-nirgood, checkpoints are popping up, though residents told the HornLife they’re wary of revenge attacks. “We want peace, but we’ve seen this before,” said one shopkeeper, declining to give his name.
Al-Shabaab has stayed silent on the loss but still holds rural pockets across Somalia’s south and centre, undeterred by U.S. airstrikes and growing offensives. Monday’s win shines a light on the Macawiisley militias—local fighters whose know-how has tipped the scales in recent clashes.
In Mogadishu, officials cheered the breakthrough. “This isn’t just a battle won—it’s a signal their time is running out,” a defence ministry spokesperson told the HornLife. With more Al-Shabaab strongholds in the crosshairs, Somalia’s next moves could test whether Ruun-nirgood’s fragile calm holds—or crumbles.
HORN LIFE
