BAIDOA: The Deputy Commander of the Somali National Army Ground Forces, General Abdullahi Hussein Iro, has conducted a working visit to military bases in Baidoa, the interim capital of South West State. The deputy commander was welcomed by the Deputy Commander of the SNA’s 60th Division, Colonel Feysal, along with other military officers stationed in the area.
During the inspection, General Iro assessed the conditions of the troops, the national duties they are carrying out, and their level of preparedness to defend the country. Addressing the soldiers, the commander urged them to intensify their efforts in safeguarding national security and protecting Somali civilians, stressing the importance of vigilance and maintaining stability in the areas under their control.
General Iro praised the dedication and sacrifices of the Somali National Army in ongoing operations against Al-Shabaab militants and nationwide security enhancement initiatives. The deputy commander has been in the Bay region for several days as part of an official tour, engaging in meetings and inspections with military commanders and units active in the area.
The inspection aligns with broader federal efforts to strengthen military readiness as Somalia prepares for the gradual drawdown of African Union peacekeeping forces. Somalia’s military leadership and the African Union mission have agreed to expedite the implementation of the Security Transition Plan, ensuring that the reduction of AU forces does not create vulnerabilities that insurgents could exploit.
Baidoa serves as a key military and logistical hub for government operations against Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia. Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and the Chief of Defence Forces previously concluded a comprehensive tour of multiple forward operating bases in Baidoa to assess troop readiness and operational capabilities. Speaker of the House of the People, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur (Madobe), has also convened strategic meetings with SNA commanders in Baidoa to evaluate security conditions and bolster stabilisation initiatives following the recent political transition in South West State.
The intensified military focus on South West State has yielded results. Somali National Army forces, operating with close-air and intelligence support from international partners, recently eliminated 12 Al-Shabaab militants during a coordinated security operation in the Daynuney area. Meanwhile, the federal government has maintained financial pressure on the group. Intelligence assessments estimate that Al-Shabaab’s total revenue for 2025 dropped to below $80 million, its lowest level in seven years, following sustained sanctions and financial disruption campaigns.
With the deputy commander now on the ground in Baidoa, Somali forces are expected to further intensify operations in the coming weeks, focusing on clearing remaining militant strongholds in the Bay and Bakool regions and securing the broader South West State ahead of the next phase of the security transition.
Recommended Reading on ftlsomalia.com:
- Military Leaders Inspect Baidoa Frontlines Amid Security Drive
- Military Chief Visits Baidoa to Intensify Al-Shabaab Offensive
- Army Commander Promotes Troops Following Mogadishu-Baidoa Road Reopening
- Somali Forces Kill 12 Al-Shabaab Militants in Southwest
- Somalia, African Union Mission Fast-Track Security Transition
- From Sanctions List to Financial Collapse: How Somalia is Crippling Al-Shabaab’s War Chest
