Ugandan troops serving under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) have successfully reclaimed the strategic villages of Sabiid and Anole from the grip of Al-Shabaab militants.
The three-day joint offensive, dubbed ‘Operation Silent Storm’, saw elite forces from both countries storm the heavily fortified hideouts in Somalia’s troubled Lower Shabelle region, neutralising several Al-Shabaab fighters and seizing stockpiles of ammunition.
The operation dismantled the terror group’s infrastructure in the area, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted on key supply routes and within residential communities.
The two villages had become notorious staging grounds for vehicle-borne IEDs (VBIEDs) and were used by militants to extort locals through illegal checkpoints, according to security officials.
AUSSOM Force Commander Lieutenant General Sam Kavuma hailed the success of the operation, praising the “bravery and commitment” of troops and reaffirming the mission’s dedication to implementing the Somali Transition Plan, which aims to gradually hand over full security control to Somali forces.
“Operation Silent Storm has struck at the heart of Al-Shabaab’s operational capability in Lower Shabelle,” said Sector One Commander Brigadier General Joseph Ssemwanga, who vowed continued joint offensives to dismantle the terrorist network.
His Somali counterpart, Major General Sahal Abdullahi Omar, confirmed that militants have been flushed out of the two villages and are now in retreat.
Security forces are now consolidating their hold on the liberated villages and conducting clearance operations across Afgooye district, targeting the last remnants of Al-Shabaab fighters hiding in the area.
The operation marks a major step forward in the long battle to restore peace and stability in southern Somalia.
