Mogadishu (WDN)- Al-Shabaab militants have captured the village of Ceel-Qooxle, located less than 17 kilometers from the strategic town of Moqokori in Hiiraan region, following a withdrawal by local Macawiisley fighters earlier today.

The takeover marks a significant setback for local resistance forces who had previously pushed the extremist group out of the area. Security sources confirm that government-aligned Macawiisley militias, who have been central to community-based counterinsurgency efforts in central Somalia, pulled out of the village without a fight, allowing Al-Shabaab to re-enter the territory unchallenged.

In response, security has been tightened in Moqokori, with reinforcements from surrounding areas arriving throughout the day. Local authorities are reportedly on high alert, fearing further advances by the militant group.

Ceel-Qooxle holds symbolic significance in the fight against Al-Shabaab. In 2022, it was the site of a major confrontation during which renowned elder and commander Nabadoon Cilmi Hagar Guure was killed while leading frontline efforts to liberate the region. That offensive had succeeded in pushing Al-Shabaab out of several key locations across Hiiraan.

However, analysts say the current momentum is shifting back in favor of the Al Shabab militia. Observers point to a growing sense of frustration and low morale among Macawiisley fighters, fueled by what they describe as waning support from the Federal Government of Somalia.

“There is a clear decline in the level of assistance provided to community defense forces,” said a security expert familiar with the region. “The Macawiisley are now operating with minimal logistical, intelligence, and medical support — and critically, without the air cover that previously gave them a tactical edge.”

Community members and analysts alike warn that the erosion of federal backing could reverse hard-won gains made during the 2022–2023 anti-Al-Shabaab campaigns, particularly in central Somalia. They note that the absence of consistent ammunition resupply, surveillance intelligence, and humanitarian support is leaving frontline fighters vulnerable and exposed.

The latest developments in Ceel-Qooxle are a stark reminder of the fragile security environment in Somalia and the high cost of disengagement from critical local defense initiatives.

In Galguduud region, Al-Shabaab publicly executed five men in the town of Ceelbuur on Saturday, accusing them of spying for the Federal Government of Somalia, regional state authorities, and international intelligence agencies, including that of the United States.

The executions were carried out in a public square in front of hundreds of residents, who were reportedly forced to attend the proceedings. Armed militants surrounded the site as the group announced the verdicts handed down by its self-declared court.

According to Al-Shabaab, the five men were found guilty of collaborating with government intelligence services and foreign agencies—a charge often used by the group to justify killings in areas under its control.

The victims were identified as:

1. Yusuf Hussein Mohamed (Abwaanka), 36 – Accused of working with the Hirshabelle regional administration, specifically in Hiiraan region.
2. Abdiwahab Mohamed Ahmed, 25 – Allegedly provided intelligence to both Hirshabelle and Puntland authorities.
3. Gaabow Ali Farah, 28 – Accused of cooperating with the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).
4. Mukhtar Ahmed Aliyo Garas – Said to have maintained links with U.S. and Somali federal intelligence services.
5. Ahmed Hassan Sheikh Hussein Mad’anoy (Toorrey), 42 – Also accused of spying for U.S. intelligence and Somali federal security agencies.

Al-Shabaab routinely stages public executions in territories it controls, often using them as propaganda tools to instill fear and suppress dissent. Human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned such killings as extrajudicial and deeply coercive, noting that the accused are rarely afforded any form of legal defense or fair trial.

The town of Ceelbuur, located in the central Galgaduud region, remains under the control of Al-Shabaab despite ongoing offensives by Somali government forces and allied partners.

Saturday’s execution underscores the persistent threat the group poses in rural central Somalia, where governance gaps and insecurity allow militants to exert significant influence over local populations.

WardheerNews