Mubarak, 3 March 2026 – Days after the successful liberation of Mubarak town in Lower Shabelle region, the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and Somali National Army (SNA) forces hosted a key leader engagement with local authorities and community representatives to consolidate security gains and strengthen cooperation in the area.
The engagement, led by Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Battle Group 44 Commander, Colonel Owiny Akena, followed a joint offensive carried out under Operation Rolling Thunder, supported by international partners, restoring federal government control over Mubarak and securing vital supply routes previously threatened by Al-Shabaab elements.
Operation Rolling Thunder is part of the broader Operation Badr, an ongoing joint campaign aimed at dismantling key Al-Shabaab strongholds, cutting off routes used for terrorist activities and protecting civilians and strategic sectors in the area.
The joint forces also secured Daarusalaam, another strategic location in Lower Shabelle region that had long served as a stronghold for Al-Shabaab fighters, significantly weakened the group’s operational foothold and supported coordinated advances toward Mubarak. These two victories have strengthened government presence and improved security along critical corridors in Lower Shabelle.
During the meeting in Mubarak, Col. Akena reassured local leaders of the joint forces’ continued commitment to maintaining security, protecting civilians and supporting stabilisation efforts in the region. He emphasised that sustained peace will depend on close coordination between security forces and communities to strengthen the gains achieved during the operation.
Local leaders welcomed the liberation of the town, expressing their readiness to collaborate with AUSSOM and SNAF to promote peace and stability in the region, further urging sustained security presence to deter a resurgence of hostile elements.
“We have sacrificed greatly to protect this town when the enemy attempted to force us out. We did not want Mubarak to be destroyed like other towns,” said a community representative. “We therefore request the UPDF and SNAF to maintain security here so that the enemy does not return.”
Community representatives also pledged full cooperate with the security forces, while sharing timely information to enhance overall safety.
The leader engagement in Mubarak reaffirmed the strong partnership between the joint forces and the residents, highlighting a shared commitment to peace, stability and restoration of state authority in Lower Shabelle.
