MOGADISHU (KAARABIIN.net) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is in Adale, a town in the Middle Shabelle region, where he is holding high-level meetings with military officials and clan leaders. This marks the third day of his visit, which is focused on addressing recent setbacks suffered by the Somali army in the face of a resurgent Al-Shabaab offensive.

The president has urged local leaders and clans to fully support the military’s efforts to reclaim control over vast stretches of territory in the Middle Shabelle region. He emphasized the importance of preventing key towns, including Adale and Adan Yabal, from falling into the hands of militants. Al-Shabaab has captured nearly 20 towns and villages in the area in recent weeks, including several surrounding Adale, intensifying concerns about the ongoing insurgency campaign.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has also directed his cabinet to relocate to the frontlines in a bid to strengthen the government’s presence in these critical regions. However, critics have expressed skepticism, warning that such moves—particularly when motivated by optics—could be exacerbating the chaos, rather than contributing to tangible solutions. The politicization of the conflict is becoming a point of contention, with many questioning the sincerity of political figures involved in these high-stakes efforts.

Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab has advanced its campaign in the Lower Shabelle region, capturing the strategic town of Barire on Friday. This brings to three the number of towns on the southwestern road to Mogadishu that have fallen under the militants’ control, joining Awdhegle and Sabid. All three towns sit along key river-crossing routes, bringing the insurgents dangerously close to the capital.

The militants’ incursions near Mogadishu are seen as an attempt to divert attention from their offensive in the central regions of Middle Shabelle and Hiran. Analysts are particularly alarmed by the proximity of the captured towns, with Al-Shabaab insurgents spotted in areas as close as 10 kilometers to the capital, sparking fears among residents of an imminent threat.

Despite repeated airstrikes from international partners aimed at halting the militants’ rapid advance, the situation remains fluid and unpredictable. The Somali government is scrambling to regroup and reinforce its forces, but with the insurgents pushing forward on multiple fronts, the road to reclaiming these territories appears fraught with uncertainty.