The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) have launched a major military operation to retake Bariire town from Al-Shabaab militants, following the insurgent group’s claims on Friday that it had overrun a Ugandan base and inflicted heavy casualties.
In a statement released on August 2, UPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye said the offensive began on Friday, August 1, targeting Bariire—a strategic town located about 50 kilometres southwest of Mogadishu.
The operation is part of “Operation Silent Storm,” a broader campaign to liberate key areas in Lower Shabelle region including Sabiid, Anole, Bariire, and Awdheegle.
“This marks the second phase of Operation Silent Storm,” Maj. Gen. Kulayigye stated.
“The towns of Sabiid and Anole have already been successfully recaptured. Fighting is ongoing in Bariire.”
Kulayigye reported that over the past two days of fighting, more than 50 Al-Shabaab fighters have been killed, including three senior commanders:
- Mohammed Abdallah, an anti-tank specialist
- Sadam Ibrahim, an improvised explosive device (IED) expert
- Abas, a senior infantry commander
Several other militants were wounded in the clashes, and operations are still underway to clear the remaining pockets of resistance.
The statement comes in direct response to claims made by Al-Shabaab on Friday, when the group said it had overrun a Ugandan forward operating base in Bariire and killed multiple Ugandan and Somali troops.
The group often exaggerates battlefield gains in its propaganda, and the UPDF dismissed the claims as “psychological warfare.”
“The UPDF affirms that Al-Shabaab’s propaganda will not weaken the determination of the joint forces to liberate Somali communities from terrorism,” Kulayigye said.
The UPDF, operating under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) successor structure now known as the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), has played a key role in fighting the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab insurgency for more than a decade.
Al-Shabaab has increased asymmetric attacks in recent months, especially as African Union troops prepare for a phased withdrawal from Somalia and hand over full security responsibilities to Somali forces by the end of 2024.
Analysts warn that the group may be trying to exploit the transition period to reassert control over strategic areas.
However, Maj. Gen. Kulayigye insisted that the UPDF and SNAF remain committed to the joint goal of defeating Al-Shabaab and stabilising Somalia.
“The UPDF and SNAF remain committed to neutralising all remaining terrorist elements and apprehending their collaborators, in line with our shared objective of restoring peace, security, and stability in Somalia,” the statement read.
As of Saturday evening, independent verification of the exact battlefield situation in Bariire remained difficult due to limited access and ongoing military operations.
However, the reported offensive indicates an escalating military push to deny Al-Shabaab any gains in Lower Shabelle, one of the group's traditional strongholds.
