New SNA Battalion Base Signals Shift Toward Stronger Local Security

GOOBJOOG NEWS | BARAWE: Somali National Army (SNA) Chief Gen. Odowa Yusuf Rageh opened the new headquarters for the 6th Battalion in Barawe, saying the facility will play a key role in stabilizing Lower Shabelle and strengthening security operations across southern Somalia.

Speaking at the inauguration, Gen. Rageh said the new command base would improve coordination among ground forces and help sustain gains made against Al Shabaab. He stressed that the army is moving from temporary frontline positions to more permanent and structured command centers.

“This headquarters is not just a building, it represents a long-term commitment to secure Barawe and the surrounding districts,” Gen. Rageh said. “Our forces are here to stay, to protect the people, and to ensure that peace can take root.”

The Somali government has, in recent months, prioritized rebuilding military infrastructure in liberated areas, aiming to support civilian administration, reopen supply routes, and encourage the return of displaced communities.

The new base will allow commanders to better plan joint operations, respond faster to security threats, and maintain pressure on insurgent groups that still operate in rural parts of the region.

Local leaders welcomed the development, noting that a stronger and more permanent army presence is essential for restoring trust, reopening local markets, and allowing normal life to resume.