Al-Shabab fighters seize central Somali town, displacing thousands
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Families flee the town of Tardo in Somalia’s Hiiran region following Al-Shabab’s capture of the area amid ongoing conflict.
Al-Shabab Seizes Strategic Somali Town, Forcing Mass Displacement
Al-Shabab fighters have taken control of the strategic town of Tardo in Somalia’s central Hiiran region, in a major offensive that has displaced tens of thousands of civilians and escalated the group’s insurgency in the area.
Tardo, located at a key crossroads between several larger towns, fell into militant hands on Sunday, following a fierce battle with government-aligned clan forces. Major Mohamed Abdullahi, a Somali military official, confirmed the capture, saying the militants “overpowered local fighters and now control the town.”
This latest seizure marks a significant blow to Somalia’s counterinsurgency efforts, especially as Al-Shabab continues to expand its territorial reach despite ongoing military operations backed by international allies.
Mass Displacement
The rapid militant advance has triggered a humanitarian emergency. Somali lawmaker Dahir Amin stated that at least 12,500 families have fled Tardo and the nearby town of Muqokori, which Al-Shabab had captured the previous week.
Many of the displaced are now sheltering in makeshift camps or seeking refuge in surrounding villages with little access to food, water, or medical care. “The scale of displacement is alarming,” Amin said. “These are families who left everything behind homes, livelihoods, and safety.”
Humanitarian organizations warn that the ongoing conflict, combined with Somalia’s chronic food insecurity, threatens to deepen one of the world’s most complex humanitarian crises.
Escalating Offensive
Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked group, has waged a deadly insurgency in Somalia since 2007, aiming to overthrow the internationally recognized government and impose its own harsh interpretation of Islamic law.
The group’s renewed offensive in the Hiiran region has intensified since the start of the year. It has seen the militants steadily reclaim territory lost in earlier Somali government operations.
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According to local sources, Muqokori and Tardo were key defensive outposts that the Somali government and its allied clan militias used to block Al-Shabab’s push into more populous areas. Their loss raises concerns that the group could now threaten new targets, including towns even closer to Mogadishu.
In response to the crisis, the Somali military has deployed an additional 100 troops to the region to support local clan fighters and try to reclaim the lost towns. However, military officials admit that logistics and morale are major challenges in the fight against a well-armed and deeply entrenched insurgent force.
A Persistent Threat
Al-Shabab’s tactics including ambushes, suicide bombings, and hit-and-run assaults have made them a difficult adversary for Somalia’s forces. The group finances its operations through extortion, illegal taxation in occupied areas, and external support networks, making it both a military and economic threat.
Despite a series of U.S. airstrikes and joint military operations by Somali forces and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Al-Shabab has proven resilient, adapting quickly to changes on the ground.
Last year, Somali troops had recaptured villages just 50 kilometers from Mogadishu, showcasing limited successes in pushing militants back. But the group has since regrouped and resumed its offensive, particularly in central and southern Somalia.
Humanitarian Concerns
Aid agencies are calling for urgent humanitarian access to those displaced by the latest fighting. “Thousands of families are living in extreme conditions, and we’re struggling to reach them due to ongoing insecurity,” said a spokesperson for a regional relief group.
The United Nations estimates that more than 3.8 million people have been displaced within Somalia due to conflict and climate-related disasters, including drought and flooding. The renewed violence in Hiiran is expected to worsen those numbers.
Regional and Global Implications
Security experts say the recent developments are a reminder of Al-Shabab’s enduring threat, not just to Somalia, but to the broader Horn of Africa region. The group has carried out cross-border attacks in Kenya and Uganda, and continues to recruit fighters across East Africa.
While international partners, including the United States and African Union, have pledged continued support for Somalia, analysts say more robust coordination and sustained pressure will be needed to counter Al-Shabab’s resurgence.
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