Sunday October 12, 2025
Somali security forces in Afgooye detained two suspected Al-Shabaab members who were allegedly planning attacks in Mogadishu. SUPPLIED
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali National Army (SNA) forces have arrested two suspected Al-Shabaab members accused of plotting attacks in the capital, Mogadishu, the Ministry of Defence announced on Sunday.
The two men were captured during a targeted security operation in Afgooye district, about 30 kilometres southwest of Mogadishu. Authorities said the suspects were travelling toward the capital when they were intercepted at a routine checkpoint.
In a statement, the government described the operation as “a well-coordinated effort” to disrupt Al-Shabaab’s attempts to destabilize major population centers. “The Somali National Army remains committed to protecting citizens and dismantling the Khawarij group that seeks to undermine the country’s peace and stability,” the statement read, using the government’s term for the militant organization.
Security officials said the arrests form part of intensified operations across Lower Shabelle, where the army has been advancing to clear insurgent-held areas and secure vital transport routes connecting the region to Mogadishu.
Lower Shabelle remains a key flashpoint in Somalia’s campaign against Al-Shabaab, which continues to wage deadly bombings and ambushes targeting civilians and government forces. The federal government, supported by regional and international partners, has vowed to sustain its counteroffensive until the group’s operational capabilities are fully degraded.