Mogadishu (WDN) – Al-Shabaab militants launched a major overnight assault on a strategic military base in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region, triggering hours of intense fighting with Somali National Army (SNA) troops and Ugandan peacekeepers serving under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

According to reports from the area, the attack targeted the Golweyn military base, located near the town of Bulo Marer, a strategically important position along the vital highway linking Mogadishu with government-controlled areas in southern Somalia.

Residents said the offensive began late Tuesday evening when heavily armed Al-Shabaab fighters mounted a coordinated attack on the base. The assault quickly escalated into a fierce battle marked by sustained exchanges of heavy weapons fire, explosions, and prolonged gunfire that echoed across the surrounding communities.

Witnesses reported that the fighting continued throughout the night, with the sounds of artillery and automatic weapons persisting until the early hours of Wednesday morning, underscoring the scale and intensity of the confrontation.

Security sources confirmed that the installation is jointly occupied by units of the Somali National Army and Ugandan forces deployed as part of AUSSOM, making it one of the key security positions responsible for protecting the strategic transport corridor through Lower Shabelle.

The attack highlights Al-Shabaab’s continued ability to mount complex operations against fortified military installations despite sustained counterterrorism campaigns by Somali and African Union forces. The Lower Shabelle region has long remained one of the insurgent group’s principal operational theaters because of its strategic location and proximity to the capital.

The full extent of the casualties and damage remains unclear. As of publication, neither the Federal Government of Somalia, the Somali National Army command, nor the Ugandan military contingent had released an official statement detailing the outcome of the battle or confirming casualty figures.

The latest assault serves as another reminder that, despite years of military offensives, Al-Shabaab retains the capability to challenge government and allied forces through coordinated attacks on high-value security installations, posing an enduring threat to Somalia’s fragile security landscape.

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