Moqokori (Dawan Africa) – Al-Shabaab militants have reportedly taken control of Moqokori town in Somalia’s Hiiraan region, a symbolic stronghold of the Ma’awisley militias, following a deadly assault early Monday morning that began with two powerful bomb blasts.Al-Shabaab media outlets have released photos showing their fighters roaming inside Moqokori town, raising AK-47 rifles in apparent celebration of their capture following Monday’s battle.
Meanwhile, Dawan Africa has learned that many residents had fled the town days earlier, having received advance warnings of an imminent Al-Shabaab offensive targeting the area.
According to residents and local security officials, the coordinated attack targeted government and Ma’awisley militia positions with twin explosions, followed by a ground offensive that overwhelmed local defenses. Both federal troops and Ma’awisley fighters were forced to withdraw, leaving the town under the group’s control.
Moqokori has long served as a strategic and symbolic base for the Ma’awisley, a community-led militia movement that has played a central role in the grassroots war against Al-Shabaab across central Somalia.
The fall of the town marks a significant setback for local resistance in the region, where community mobilization has been a key part of the national counterinsurgency campaign.
The Federal Government of Somalia has not yet issued an official response. Dawan Africa will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
