Al Shabaab Under Pressure as Fighters Surrender, Hideouts Dismantled

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Four Al-Shabaab fighters surrendered to Somalia’s intelligence agency in Bakool region Monday, as government forces intensified operations against the Islamist group in multiple parts of the country.

The militants, described as members of Al-Shabaab “brigades,” gave themselves up in Hudur, the regional capital, citing harsh conditions in the bush.

Their surrender follows stepped-up security operations in Bakool under a campaign known as Common Storm, which has forced several fighters to abandon the group.

In a separate operation, the Somali National Army said it dismantled Al-Shabaab checkpoints and hideouts around Cumar Beerre in Lower Shabelle region. Officials said the aim was to end years of harassment and intimidation of residents and restore security and public confidence.

The latest offensives form part of a wider national campaign by Somali forces, backed by local militias and international partners, to weaken Al-Shabaab’s grip on rural areas and expand government authority.