Ugunji, Somalia – A senior Al-Shabaab figure, Mohamed Abdi Dhiblawe, has been killed in a targeted security operation in Ugunji village, security officials confirmed on Monday.
Dhiblawe, identified as the mastermind of the March 18, 2025 explosion that targeted the convoy of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Mogadishu, was eliminated in a joint operation executed by Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) with the support of international partners. The March attack killed several bystanders and security officers, though the president escaped unharmed.
According to intelligence sources, Dhiblawe had been on Somalia’s most-wanted list for years, accused of orchestrating major bombings and coordinating militant cells across Banadir and Lower Shabelle. His removal is regarded as a significant blow to the militant group’s operational network in southern Somalia.
NISA described the operation as “precisely targeted,” adding that no civilians were harmed. Residents of Ugunji village reported heavy gunfire during the raid, which ended swiftly as security forces secured the area.
Security analysts say the killing of Dhiblawe signals growing effectiveness of Somali-led counterterrorism operations, bolstered by intelligence-sharing with regional and international allies. However, they caution that Al-Shabaab retains the ability to mount retaliatory attacks, particularly in Mogadishu and key towns along strategic routes.
The Somali government has vowed to intensify its campaign against Al-Shabaab as part of its broader stabilization strategy, aiming to dismantle the group’s leadership and liberate remaining areas under its control.