Mogadishu (WDN) — Ugandan troops serving under the African Union mission in Somalia are reported to have sustained heavy losses in the battle to recapture Bariire, a strategic town in the country’s Lower Shabelle region.

According to military sources, 11 Ugandan soldiers were killed during intense fighting on Wednesday, while six more died earlier in the week when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. The combined incidents have brought the Ugandan death toll to at least 17 in recent operations.

The offensive, conducted jointly with Somali government forces, successfully pushed Al-Shabaab militants out of Bariire, a move seen as a key step in weakening the group’s presence in Lower Shabelle.

Security officials say the focus is now shifting toward Awdheegle district, another Al-Shabaab stronghold. However, they warn that retaking Awdheegle could be significantly more difficult, as the militants are believed to have entrenched defensive positions in the area, potentially leading to fierce resistance.

Al-Shabaab has not yet issued a statement on its own casualties in Bariire. Somali military sources report that several fighters were killed in the operation, and four others were captured alive.

WardheerNews