By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Somali Troops Kill Over 130 Militants, Crush Al Shabaab Attack on Kudhaa
Somalia’s security forces have repelled a major offensive by Al Shabaab fighters in the southern Lower Juba region, killing more than 130 militants in one of the group’s deadliest setbacks in recent months, authorities said on Thursday.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the operation followed an attempted attack by the armed group on Kudhaa, a small but strategically significant island town near the Kenyan border.
The clash, which lasted over 24 hours, involved the Somali National Army working alongside local security units to halt the advance and push the militants out of the area.
Military officials said the assault was met with strong resistance, forcing the fighters to retreat after sustaining heavy losses. Several others were injured, while weapons and military vehicles abandoned during the withdrawal were recovered by government forces.
In a statement, the ministry described the operation as a decisive success, noting that Somali troops acted swiftly to neutralise the threat and prevent the town from falling into militant hands.
Security forces remain deployed in and around Kudhaa to ensure stability and prevent further attacks.
Kudhaa lies about 130 kilometres south of Kismayo, the administrative capital of Jubaland, and has long been viewed as a sensitive location due to its proximity to key supply routes used by armed groups operating in southern Somalia.
Al Shabaab, which has waged an insurgency against the Somali state for more than 16 years, continues to target government institutions, security personnel and civilians in its bid to destabilise the country.
However, the group has come under sustained military pressure in recent months.
Since mid-2024, the Somali government has intensified its campaign against the militants with support from the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and other international partners.
The renewed push follows the extension of the AU mission’s mandate by the UN Security Council, which authorised its presence until the end of 2026.
Officials say recent gains reflect improved coordination between national forces and regional allies, as Somalia works to reclaim territory and weaken the operational capacity of the insurgent group.
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