Mogadishu (WDN)- Amid a string of territorial losses to Al-Shabaab militants, the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) military Sr officer, issued a stark warning to Somali forces and allied local militias, urging them not to abandon Maxaas following recent retreats from key districts in Hiiraan.

Speaking to a gathering of security officers, soldiers, Macawisley militia and traditional elders in Maxaas on Tuesday, Col. Cali Dhuux, a senior military officer lamented the collapse of government control in towns such as Gumare, Ceel-Hareeri, and most recently Moqokori, which fell into Al-Shabaab hands after intense fighting.

“We’ve already fled from Gumare, Ceel-Hareeri, and Moqokori,” he told the assembled forces. “If we are now preparing to flee Maxaas too, let’s not deceive ourselves. If anyone knows a safer place to run, they better tell us now.”

The colonel’s remarks underscored growing frustration within the ranks, particularly among the self-organized Macawisley militia, who have borne the brunt of ground combat in central Somalia. Dhuux’s speech was both a critique of past failures and a rallying cry for renewed resolve.

He called on the fighters to abandon disorganized operations and adopt a more structured military posture.

“From now on, we will fight like an army,” he declared. “There will be no more chaotic rushes. We’ll engage unit by unit, from one front to the next. Enough with the disorder.”

Dhuux also acknowledged the sacrifices of the Macawisley, saying their blood had protected local communities in the absence of formal government forces. He urged them to continue standing firm, even in the face of setbacks.

Joining him was Ali Jeyte Cismaan, a senior regional figure, who promised that the federal government would begin providing consistent financial support to the troops. He said stipends would be paid to soldiers and their families, and that official registration was underway to ensure timely salary disbursement.

The comments come just days after the strategic district of Moqokori was captured by Al-Shabaab militants, raising alarms over the government’s capacity to hold liberated areas amid patchy logistical support and limited coordination between federal forces and local defense groups.

As pressure mounts in central Somalia, the speeches from Dhuux and Jeyte reflect an urgent push to stabilize frontlines and restore morale among exhausted and under-resourced forces.

WardheerNews