Life returns as forces retake key Somali town from al-Shabaab

Civilians in Bariire are beginning to rebuild their lives and livelihoods after Somali and Ugandan forces recaptured the town from al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab fighters on August 8, ending six months of isolation and terror.

The group had seized the town in March, destroying a vital bridge that cut off local communities and devastated the livestock-based economy that supports farmers and herders.

"With security restored, the people of Bariire can breathe freely again, reclaiming their freedom and normalcy," said Brig. Gen. Sahal Abdullahi Omar, commander of the Somali Land Forces.

The town's liberation followed a three-week offensive launched in mid-July, with the Somali National Army (SNA) and Ugandan troops conducting coordinated operations under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), according to Daily Express Uganda.

Over 120 al-Shabaab fighters were reported killed, with many others captured or wounded.

"Bariire was fortified. Every compound could be a firing point. But the joint forces maintained pressure and forced the enemy into retreat," said Colonel Chris Magezi, military assistant to the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) chief of defense forces.

Terror and oppression

The al-Qaeda affiliate terrorizes communities, targeting anyone who opposes its extremist ideology, analysts told Salaam Times.

"Al-Shabaab terrorists commit horrific crimes in destabilized areas under their control, killing local leaders, relatives of government employees, educated individuals, and anyone who opposes them," said Izatullah Qayem, a political analyst in Kabul.

"Areas under al-Shabaab's control are like hell. Locals are deprived of all rights, extorted, and forced to obey extremist laws," said Muhammad Nabi Zakiri, another Kabul-based political analyst.

"Terrorist groups treat local populations like hostages," he told Salaam Times. "They torture residents and eliminate their opponents, especially in newly captured territories."

Successful partnership

The operation benefited from US support, including logistics assistance.

US Ambassador Richard Riley visited nine injured Ugandan soldiers at a field hospital within the AUSSOM Halane Base in Mogadishu on August 12, an Embassy statement said.

Brig. Gen. Joseph Musoke Ssemwanga, commander of AUSSOM Sector 1, expressed gratitude. "We will forever appreciate the support the United States gives us, the airstrikes, casualty evacuation, intelligence sharing, and much more," he said.

The United States is Somalia's largest security partner in the fight against al-Shabaab, providing hundreds of millions of dollars annually in security assistance, including training, mentoring, and construction.

"The fight against al-Shabaab is not just to keep Somalia safe, but to prevent these terrorists from threatening other countries, in Africa and beyond," Ambassador Riley said.

SNA Chief Gen. Odowa Yusuf Rage visited Bariire on August 13 to oversee stabilization efforts and urged forces to "maintain the momentum of ongoing operations to eliminate the remaining threat of Al-Shabaab, safeguard local communities, and consolidate security gains," according to Somalia's Ministry of Defense.

The recapture of Bariire, just over 70 kilometers from the capital, Mogadishu, marks the second major victory against al-Shabaab in Lower Shabelle within two months, following the June liberation of Sabid-Anole.