Al-Shabaab fighters took the village of Comaad in Somalia’s Hiiraan region this weekend after clashes with government troops, local outlets reported, as clan leaders in the regional capital Beledweyne staged protests against the Hirshabelle state administration.
The two developments point to a weakening front line in central Somalia. The Hiiraan region was the base of the 2022 government offensive against Al-Shabaab, in which local clan militias known as Macawisley fought alongside the army; a political split in the region now risks draining that support.
What happened in Comaad?
Al-Shabaab fighters captured Comaad, a village near Matabaan district, after attacking a base held by federal forces, according to Garowe Online, which cited local media. Accounts of the timing differ: Garowe Online said the village fell early on Saturday, while FTL Somalia said heavy fighting began on Saturday night and that federal troops then withdrew.
FTL Somalia put Comaad about 20km from Matabaan. Somali Guardian said the village was about a 30-minute drive from Matabaan and that the militants were advancing along the main road. Mustaqbal Media described Comaad as a strategic settlement on routes linking the Hiiraan region with Galgaduud.
Casualty figures from the fighting in the Hiiraan region are not known. Mustaqbal Media said control of the area had not been independently established, and that the Hirshabelle administration had not issued a statement. The federal government had not commented publicly by Sunday afternoon. Al-Shabaab briefly held Comaad in September 2025 before withdrawing, FTL Somalia said.
Why are clans in the Hiiraan region protesting?
Hawadle clan leaders in the Hiiraan region reject the 24 October vote in Jowhar that re-elected Ali Gudlawe, first elected in 2020, as president of Hirshabelle state, FTL Somalia reported. Their traditional leader, Ugaas Yusuf Ugaas Hassan, called a demonstration in Beledweyne for Sunday and has asked for a political conference that includes all communities in the region.
On Saturday armed Macawisley fighters from the Afar Makane clan paraded in Beledweyne, declared their opposition to the Hirshabelle administration and pledged support for the Ugaas, Hiiraan Online reported. Its Somali-language service reported protests against both the federal government and Hirshabelle in the town on Sunday.
FTL Somalia linked the loss of Comaad to the dispute. Citing local social media accounts, it said about 2,000 soldiers from the Hawadle clan had left front-line positions after the Ugaas asked them in early November to report to Beledweyne. That figure could not be independently verified, and the army has not commented on it.
How has Mogadishu responded?
The federal government sent a delegation to Beledweyne to mediate, FTL Somalia said. At Mr Gudlawe’s inauguration in Jowhar, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud offered to move the state capital to the Hiiraan region if security allowed, leaving the decision to the Hirshabelle administration, according to the same report. Garowe Online said the government had recently pulled a significant number of troops out of the nearby Hananbuure area.
The crisis comes as Somalia’s wider politics are strained. The government’s national dialogue failed to open this week after an opposition boycott, and the withdrawal of Ugandan troops has raised questions about the African Union mission’s reach.
What happens next?
Al-Shabaab took Moqokori and Tardo in the Hiiraan region in July 2025, Reuters reported at the time, reversing gains from the 2022 offensive. Whether the army retakes Comaad, and whether Mogadishu can settle the Hawadle and Makane grievances, will decide how much more ground it loses. The African Union mission, AUSSOM, which supports the army, reports to the AU Peace and Security Council.
FAQ
Where is Comaad in the Hiiraan region?
Comaad is a village roughly 20km, or about 30 minutes by road, from Matabaan district in central Somalia, according to FTL Somalia and Somali Guardian.
Who controls Comaad?
Garowe Online, FTL Somalia and Somali Guardian reported that Al-Shabaab took the village. The government has not commented, and Mustaqbal Media said control had not been independently established.
Why are clans in the Hiiraan region protesting?
Hawadle and Makane clan leaders reject the October re-election of Ali Gudlawe as Hirshabelle president and want a bigger political role for the region.
Who are the Macawisley?
They are clan militias in central Somalia that fought Al-Shabaab alongside the army, notably in the 2022 offensive.
