President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has rejected claims that recent territorial losses to Al-Shabaab signify a failure in Somalia’s long-running counterterrorism campaign, insisting that government forces remain on track to defeat the militant group.
Speaking at the closing of the National Human Rights Summit on Wednesday, Mohamud acknowledged Al-Shabaab’s capture of Aden Yabaal in Middle Shabelle and the military’s withdrawal from Aboorey in Hiran but framed these as tactical retreats rather than strategic defeats.
“These incidents do not reflect a failure in our two-year campaign, which has achieved notable successes against the terrorists,” he said.
“Our forces have degraded Al-Shabaab’s capabilities, liberated key territories, and disrupted their financial networks. What we see now are desperate attempts to regain relevance.”
Al-Shabaab’s advances come amid an ongoing Somali-led offensive, backed by African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) troops and U.S. airstrikes, which has weakened the group’s hold in central Somalia.
Despite government claims of progress, Al-Shabaab remains resilient, exploiting security gaps left by ATMIS troop drawdowns and clan militia coordination issues.
Mohamud’s remarks aim to reassure both domestic audiences and international partners ahead of planned elections and constitutional reforms later this year.
The Somali government has pledged a “final phase” of operations to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s remaining strongholds. However, the group’s ability to retake towns underscores the challenges of sustaining gains without long-term security and governance reforms.