MOGADISHU — The Minister of Defense for the Federal Government of Somalia, H.E. Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, has officially confirmed that government forces have fully secured the strategic arterial road connecting Mogadishu and Baidoa, marking a highly significant development in ongoing national military operations.
Reestablishing Essential Supply Lines
In a comprehensive national television interview, the Minister reported that the Somali National Army (SNA) successfully cleared and reopened the crucial route earlier this week after decisively expelling militant fighters from heavily entrenched key positions.
“The road is now secure for civilian travel, reestablishing essential transportation between the capital and the Bay region,” he stated. This major logistical victory directly supports Mogadishu’s recent declarations of victory following the federal stabilization of Baidoa, ensuring that the interim regional capital remains safely connected to the central government.
Expanding the Offensive
The Minister further noted that federal military forces have regained strong, independent operational capabilities and are now fully capable of conducting targeted, high-intensity offensives in remaining militant-controlled areas. These renewed capabilities were recently demonstrated during the fierce military maneuvers that secured Baidoa, and have now expanded to include preemptive strikes and a surprise tactical assault on a major militant bastion in Jilib, Middle Juba.
Looking ahead, Minister Fiqi detailed ambitious operational plans to advance ground forces from Barawe in the Lower Shabelle region directly toward Jilib. This planned offensive is part of a much wider, coordinated initiative to systematically extend federal government authority and security architecture throughout the entire nation.
In his closing remarks, he emphasized that the national military has successfully surmounted previous logistical obstacles and now exhibits vastly enhanced coordination and combat preparedness. The Minister firmly reaffirmed the federal government’s unwavering commitment to continue aggressively pursuing militant groups until their influence is completely eradicated nationwide.
