The Federal Government announces the name of a senior leader it claims has taken over Buurhakaba

Baydhabo (Caasimada Online) – The Federal Government of Somalia has stated that a senior leader of the Al-Shabaab group has appeared in the district of Buurhakaba, which has recently fallen out of the control of the South West administration.

A statement released by the National Television said: “The Khawaarij group, which has recently been carrying out actions that disrupt the lives of the community and the development of the area in South West regions, has recently seized areas under the administration, although a large operation is ongoing by the National Army aimed at ending the actions of the Khawaarij.”

The Ministry of Information of Somalia has stated that the group has reached areas including Diinsoor, Qansaxdheere, Bardaale, and Buurhakaba, which are part of the Bay region. However, the surprising matter is that the senior leader who appeared with the militia that seized the district of Buurhakaba was a person who previously managed that district, according to the ministry.

The government has stated that the district of Buurhakaba, which is a strategic location connecting Mogadishu and other areas of South West, is currently under the control of the Al-Shabaab group, while the forces loyal to Lafta-gareen have claimed that they have taken over the control of that district.

So, who is the leader that appeared in Buurhakaba?

Maxamed Cabdi Xuseen Awkaarey, whom the government has stated was leading the Al-Shabaab militia that seized Buurhakaba, has historically been the former chairman of that district during the time of the transitional government.

In August 2007, he and a group accompanying him were released from the central prison in the city of Baydhabo, at a time when there were suspicions related to their joining the Khawaarij.

After a period, in 2008, he officially resigned from the position of mayor of the Buurhakaba district, and since then he joined the Khawaarijta.

In 2013, he last appeared in the Buurhakaba district, being part of the administration of the group that was holding the local people hostage, at a time when the 60th Division of the National Army had dealt a heavy blow to the group's militias.

The local people expressed strong concern about the group's behavior, according to the government. "They are harming the community, traditional elders are being arrested, and the youth of the area are being oppressed. Incidents and looting have been reported in the Buurhakaba district," the government statement said.

The Somali government, which is in a campaign against Al-Shabaab, stated that it is implementing a plan to end the offensive the group is conducting in the regions of South West, while the National Army has directed its forces to the areas where the group's militias recently caused violence.

The government also mentioned that the actions initiated by the group are accelerating a public uprising, as there are mobilizations in the districts and areas of South West where the public is participating in efforts to alleviate the threats posed by terrorist groups.

However, the Buurhakaba district, which is approximately 60 KM from the city of Baydhabo, is traversed by strategic roads connecting the regions of Bay, Lower Shabelle, Banadir, Hiraan, and Jubbaland, which gives this district particular importance as it is among several areas that have been captured by the South West administration.