Baidoa — Somalia’s top military commanders visited the southwestern city of Baidoa following the reopening of a key highway linking the capital to the region after operations against Islamist militants, officials said.
The head of the Somali National Army, Ibrahim Mohamed Mahmoud, led a delegation that included police chief Asad Osman Abdullahi, navy commander Abdiwahab Abdullahi Omar and the chairman of the first-degree military court, Colonel Hassan Ali Nur Shuute.
The visit came after government forces said they had successfully carried out a planned operation to reopen the strategic road connecting Mogadishu and Baidoa, a route long disrupted by insecurity.
Military officials described the highway as vital for civilian movement, trade and delivery of essential services. They said troops had secured the route after removing fighters linked to the Islamist group Al-Shabaab.
During the inspection, commanders praised soldiers for the operation’s success and encouraged them to intensify ongoing offensives against the militants to ensure lasting security.
The Mogadishu–Baidoa road is considered a backbone corridor connecting several regions, and its reopening is being viewed as a major security gain. Authorities said the move is expected to restore civilian travel, improve supply flows and strengthen stabilization efforts in the Bay region.
