Commander missing: Somali army in crisis after Al-Shabaab assault

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Commander missing: Somali army in crisis after Al-Shabaab assault

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – A cloud of uncertainty hangs over the Somali National Army following a daring Al-Shabaab attack on a military base in the Cows Weyne area of the Galgadud region.

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Colonel Mukhtar Hassan Tifow, known by his alias Shaah Macabe reportedly missing.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – A cloud of uncertainty hangs over the Somali National Army following a daring Al-Shabaab attack on a military base in the Cows Weyne area of the Galgadud region.

The harrowing assault, which saw the militant group overrun the base, has left more than 190 recently deployed soldiers dead, with approximately 43 soldiers and officers unaccounted for or reportedly taken hostage by the Al-Qaeda-linked militants.

Among the missing is Colonel Mukhtar Hassan Tifow, known by his alias Shaah Macabe, the revered Commander of the 25th Brigade of the Somali National Army. As hope dims for his safe return, the circumstances surrounding the attack and its aftermath reveal a stark reality for the nation’s armed forces.

Shaah Macabe led a contingent of around 2,000 soldiers who departed Mogadishu to confront the Al-Shabaab threat head-on. His troops were stationed on the front lines in the remote village of Cows Weyne within the Galgadud region until on the morning of August 26.

The assault by Al-Shabaab on that fateful Saturday began with suicide car bombings and quickly escalated as armed militants stormed the base in the remote rural village.

Hassan Abdulle Alasow, a relative of Shaah Macabe, recounted the tense moments before the attack. "The last time the family communicated was midnight Friday moments before the attack. His phone remains off since then. We have less than a 98% chance of finding him alive,” Alasow shared, underlining the anguish and uncertainty gripping the family.

Criticism has mounted against the minister of defense and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for their perceived silence on the matter.

Alasow expressed his frustration, questioning the efficacy of high-profile visits in the absence of concrete information about the missing commander’s fate.

"What is the value of the visit of the Minister of Defence, the commander of the national intelligence, and even the president, if the commander of the 25th Battalion Brigade cannot be located alive or dead?” he vented on Facebook.

Shaah Macabe’s disappearance resonates deeply among his kin and community.

Hailing from the Abgaal sub-clan of the Hawiye, Shaah Macabe’s rise to prominence was marked by his leadership during the April 2021 uprising against former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo. Amid a dispute over delayed elections, he rallied his clan’s soldiers to march on Mogadishu, opposing Farmajo’s rule and vowing to overthrow it by force. This resolve culminated in street clashes between his forces and those supporting Farmajo.

A military armoured vehicle seen burning after Al-Shabaab attack on Somali army base in Cows Weyne.

In a direct message to the president, Shaah Macabe’s relatives emphasized their fervent desire to learn his fate. They also called for swift action to rescue the missing soldiers and officers, stressing the urgency following the devastating terror attack.

"Silence can no longer be an option; life and death deserve their answers,” Alasow concluded, echoing the collective plea of a community grappling with uncertainty and loss.

Abrupt retreat

In the aftermath of the assault, Somali forces and their allied clan militia have undertaken an abrupt retreat from multiple bases across the towns of Galcad, Ceeldheer, Masagawaa, Ruunirgood, and Wabxo.

These towns were recently liberated in the Galgaduud and Middle Shabelle regions. Insider sources suggest that suspicions loom large regarding the potential presence of traitorous elements within, leading to Al-Shabaab’s devastating attacks.

Amidst the growing concern, there is a resounding call for a thorough and impartial investigation into the recent onslaughts. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud echoed this sentiment on Tuesday, acknowledging the pressing need to delve into the matter involving what he termed "irresponsible officials in the army.” His statement alluded to the potential involvement of senior officers in the terror attack.

Subsequent developments revealed Galmudug’s president Ahmed Abdi Karie (Qoorqoor) and that of Hirshabelle Ali Abdullahi Guudlaawe, along with the Minister of Defense, Abduqadir Nur visibly visiting the frontlines on Wednesday. Their presence aimed to bolster the efforts of the forces striving to halt the mass exodus of soldiers, a response to the alarming withdrawal witnessed.

The ripple effects of these attacks have not only shaken the stability of recently regained territories but also underscored the urgent need for accountability and comprehensive investigation within the armed forces’ ranks.