Goobo, Somalia — Al-Shabaab militants on Monday claimed to have seized control of Goobo, a strategically located settlement between Wabho in Galgadud and Mahaas in Hiiraan, marking a fresh gain for the extremist group as Somalia’s federal forces continue their protracted military campaign to reclaim territory.
The Al-Qaeda-linked insurgents announced their takeover through affiliated media outlets, asserting that their fighters had entered and now control the area, long regarded as a critical transit and logistical hub in central Somalia.
Goobo’s position along key supply and troop movement routes between south-central and north-central Somalia makes it a valuable asset in the group’s broader insurgency. The fall of the town, if confirmed, threatens to disrupt stabilization efforts and could impede the momentum of the Somali National Army’s (SNA) counterinsurgency operations in the region.
Somali government officials have not yet issued an official statement confirming or denying the group’s claims, but military sources indicate that clashes had been reported in the vicinity in recent days. Local residents, some of whom have fled the area, reported heightened militant activity and a reduced security presence prior to the alleged takeover.
The development comes at a time when Somalia’s federal government, backed by regional forces and international partners, has intensified its operations in HirShabelle and Galmudug states as part of Phase Three of the offensive against Al-Shabaab. Despite significant gains earlier this year, including the liberation of several rural villages and forward operating base transitions from AUSSOM to Somali forces, the group continues to exploit gaps in coordination and infrastructure to regroup and launch counterattacks.
Security analysts warn that the fall of Goobo, if left uncontested, could provide Al-Shabaab with a staging ground for further incursions into government-held territory and pose a renewed threat to nearby towns, including Mahaas and Ceelbuur.
The Somali National Army and its partners are expected to launch an immediate response to retake the area as part of a wider effort to deny the group strategic depth.
Goobo’s seizure underscores the resilience of the insurgency and the need for sustained coordination between federal forces, state militias, and local communities to secure liberated areas and prevent militant resurgence.