Somalia, 4 October 2025 – Somali Security Forces and African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) troops have recaptured the strategic town of Awdheegle in the Lower Shabelle region following a renewed offensive against Al-Shabaab.
A statement issued by Somalia's Ministry of Defence, Saturday, described the recapture as a major milestone in securing the country and ensuring peace and stability.
It said the operation is part of the ongoing “Silent Storm” campaign, aimed at clearing Al-Shabaab from its remaining positions in southern Somalia.
“We are pleased to inform the Somali people that Awdheegle town and its surrounding villages are now firmly under the control of the Somali National Army and their partners,” Defence Ministry spokesperson Abukar Mohamed Hassan said in a video address, adding that Al-Shabaab fighters had suffered huge losses.
However, the statement did not provide casualty figures for either side. AUSSOM is yet to confirm the government's statement but sources within the AU Mission said the troops had taken control of the surroundings areas “and it is only a matter of time before the town is fully liberated,”
The takeover comes after months of intensified operations in Lower Shabelle. In recent months, the government has reported a series of airstrikes in the area, most recently on September 17, when officials said seven Al-Shabaab fighters were killed in a targeted strike.
The liberation of the town will be a major success for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who has reiterated that the elimination of Al Shabaab is a major priority of his administration.