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The Director of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Sanbaloolshe, has intensified efforts to rally traditional elders and community leaders in the Hiiraan region as the federal government escalates its military campaign against Al-Shabaab. Sanbaloolshe, now in his fourth day in Moqokori district, has been holding high-level consultations with elders, urging them to reinforce their support for the ongoing offensive, particularly in areas where fierce battles have erupted between Macawiisley militia and Al-Shabaab fighters.
The NISA chief emphasized the critical role of community-backed resistance in dismantling Al-Shabaab’s presence, praising the elders for their contributions to mobilizing local fighters. “The fight against Al-Shabaab must be redoubled,” Sanbaloolshe declared, assuring the elders of full government backing, including intelligence and logistical support. The elders, in turn, reaffirmed their commitment to the national effort, pledging to strengthen coordination with security forces to accelerate the liberation of militant-held areas.
The meetings come amid one of the largest coordinated offensives against Al-Shabaab in months. In the past 72 hours, Somali National Army forces, alongside clan fighters and international allies, have killed more than 120 Al-Shabaab militants, including senior figures, across Hiiraan, Galmudug, Hirshabelle, Jubbaland, and Southwest states. Defense Minister Ahmed Macalin Fiqi described the operations as a “new phase” in Somalia’s campaign to eliminate the Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group, which has waged a deadly insurgency against the Somali state for over 16 years.
Sanbaloolshe’s presence on the frontlines underscores the Somali government’s focus on community-driven counterterrorism as it seeks to consolidate recent military gains and push Al-Shabaab out of rural strongholds. The engagement with Hiiraan elders is part of a broader strategy to ensure that liberated areas remain secure and do not fall back into militant control.
The discussions have centered on operational coordination, intelligence-sharing, and post-conflict recovery efforts. Security guarantees for newly liberated areas remain a top priority, with officials working to establish mechanisms that prevent Al-Shabaab from regrouping. Public mobilization has also been a key focus, with calls for more youth to join stabilization efforts under legitimate security frameworks.
Somalia’s federal government, under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has declared 2025 a pivotal year for eliminating Al-Shabaab’s operational capabilities. With international partners and domestic forces working in tandem, there is cautious optimism about the group’s declining territorial grip. Hiiraan, due to its geographical centrality and history of militant entrenchment, remains a key battleground in this national effort.
As the offensive continues, Somali authorities are keen to sustain momentum by integrating local communities into security operations. The collaboration between NISA and Hiiraan elders signals a shift toward a more inclusive approach to counterterrorism, recognizing that military victories alone are insufficient without grassroots support.