On January 20, 2023, Al-Shabaab militants launched a ferocious attack on a military camp in Galcad, a town in central Somalia located approximately 375 kilometers north of Mogadishu, killing seven soldiers, including a senior commander from the elite Danab brigade. According to Somalia’s Information Ministry, the Islamist insurgents stormed the base with two explosive-laden trucks, sparking intense fighting. Despite the heavy toll, the ministry reported that Somali forces regained control of the site, claiming to have killed over 100 Al-Shabaab fighters, though these figures remain unverified. The attack underscores the persistent threat posed by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group, even in areas recently reclaimed by the government.
A Blow to Recent Gains
The assault came just days after the Somali National Army, alongside local Macawisley clan militias, celebrated a significant victory by capturing Galcad and the strategic coastal town of Haradhere on January 16, 2023, without resistance. Haradhere, a key supply hub for Al-Shabaab since 2010, had served as a critical route for the movement of people and goods. The government’s recapture of these towns marked a milestone in its ongoing offensive, supported by US airstrikes and the African Union force. However, the attack in Galcad, as noted by Omar Mahmood, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, highlights the militants’ ability to strike back with lethal force in areas recently seized by pro-government forces.
Al-Shabaab’s Persistent Insurgency
Al-Shabaab has been waging a brutal insurgency against Somalia’s central government for nearly 15 years, seeking to impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law. Despite being pushed out of Mogadishu and other urban centers over a decade ago, the group retains a strong presence in rural areas of central and southern Somalia. The Galcad attack, described by a local resident, Abdilahi Rage, involved militants detonating explosives before engaging in close combat, briefly pushing back Somali troops until reinforcements arrived. This incident follows another deadly assault on a military base in central Somalia on January 17, 2023, signaling the group’s resilience despite government advances.
Government’s “All-Out War” Continues
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who assumed office in May 2022, has vowed to eradicate Al-Shabaab, declaring an “all-out war” against the jihadists. On January 17, 2023, he announced plans to expand the offensive into the South West State, marking the next phase of the campaign. “Somalis have just one enemy, and that enemy is Al-Shabaab,” Mohamud stated, urging young fighters to abandon the group and surrender. He emphasized that the first phase of the offensive, focused on central Somalia, was nearing completion, with plans to liberate the entire country. Last week, he rallied ordinary Somalis to rise against the militants, likening them to “bedbugs” that must be eradicated.
A Fragile Security Landscape
The Galcad attack highlights the challenges facing Somalia’s government as it seeks to consolidate territorial gains. The militants’ ability to target elite units like the Danab brigade, trained by the US, underscores their tactical sophistication. Al-Shabaab’s recent activities, including small-scale attacks across the border in eastern Kenya, a contributor to the African Union force, further demonstrate their regional reach. The group’s deadliest attack since the offensive began occurred in October 2022, when twin car bombs killed 121 people at the education ministry in Mogadishu, a stark reminder of their capacity for destruction.
As Somalia presses forward with its campaign, the Galcad incident serves as a sobering reminder of the ongoing struggle to secure the nation against a determined adversary.
