Mogadishu (WDN) – A senior Somali military commander has issued a stern warning to civilians accused of cooperating with Al-Shabaab, declaring that residents of Hiiraan found supporting or obeying the militant group could face severe consequences—including the loss of their homes.

The remarks by Colonel Ali Cageey, commander of the Somali National Army’s 27th Division operating in the Hiiraan region, have sparked debate over the role of the military in areas where the government’s security footprint remains uneven and civilians often live under competing pressures.

In a strongly worded address, Colonel Cageey warned residents of government-controlled areas against maintaining any contact with Al-Shabaab or complying with the group’s directives. “We will take action against anyone found cooperating with Al-Shabaab or carrying out its orders,” the commander said, directing his message particularly at civilians living in liberated parts of Hiraan.

He went further, declaring that residents who leave government-held towns and travel to villages controlled by Al-Shabaab would not be allowed to return freely. He also warned that authorities could confiscate the homes of individuals found to have aligned themselves with the insurgent group.

The comments underscore the Somali government’s determination to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s support networks as military operations continue across central Somalia. Security officials have long argued that the militant group relies not only on armed fighters but also on civilian informants, tax collectors, and logistical supporters to sustain its insurgency.

Yet the commander’s remarks have also raised broader questions about the realities confronting civilians in conflict zones.

Across large parts of Hiiraan, many rural communities remain under Al-Shabaab influence or are caught between government forces and the insurgents. Residents often contend with coercion from armed actors on both sides, making survival rather than political allegiance their primary concern.

Critics argue that while preventing collaboration with militant groups is a legitimate security objective, threats directed at civilians risk overlooking the government’s own responsibility to establish lasting security before demanding complete disengagement from insurgent-controlled areas.

For many observers, the sequence matters. The first duty of any national army is to secure territory, protect civilians, and establish an environment in which citizens can live without fear of armed groups. Only after the state can consistently guarantee security, they argue, can it reasonably expect civilians to sever all contact with insurgents who still exercise de facto control over nearby villages.

Al-Shabaab continues to maintain a presence in several parts of Hiraan, including rural areas where government authority remains limited. In such locations, civilians often have little choice but to comply with the militants’ demands to avoid retaliation.

That reality has led some observers to question whether punitive measures against civilians, without first ensuring their protection, could prove counterproductive.

Supporters of the military, however, contend that stronger deterrence is necessary to weaken Al-Shabaab’s intelligence and logistical networks, arguing that the insurgency cannot be defeated if local collaborators continue to provide information, shelter, or resources.

The debate highlights the complex balance Somalia faces in its long-running campaign against Al-Shabaab: combining firm security measures with the need to win the confidence of communities living on the front lines of the conflict.

As military operations continue across Hiiraan, the challenge for the government will be not only defeating the insurgents on the battlefield but also convincing civilians that the state’s protection is more reliable than the militants’ intimidation. Until that confidence is firmly established, many analysts believe that warnings alone may struggle to achieve the lasting security the government seeks.

WardheerNews