MOGADISHU – Somalia’s police commander, Major General Asad Osman Abdullahi, chaired a high-stakes security meeting this week to fortify protections in Mogadishu ahead of Ramadan, as authorities warned of heightened risks from Al-Shabaab militants targeting the capital, officials said Friday.
Joined by Deputy Commander Major General Osman Abdullahi Mohamed, widely known as “Kaniif,” Abdullahi gathered senior police officers and unit heads to refine plans against the jihadist group, which has vowed to escalate attacks during the Muslim holy month, expected to begin later in March. The meeting focused on deploying additional patrols and checkpoints across Mogadishu, a frequent target of bombings and ambushes.
Abdullahi praised the resilience of Somalia’s security forces, who have been stretched thin by near-daily clashes with Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate that controls swathes of rural territory and has fought to topple the fragile government for nearly two decades. “Our officers are working tirelessly to ensure stability,” he said while appealing to the public for cooperation.
“Al-Shabaab seeks to sow chaos and harm Somalis, especially during Ramadan,” he warned, urging residents to report suspicious behavior to thwart the group’s plans.
The stepped-up measures come amid a broader offensive against the militants, with Somali troops, backed by foreign forces, intensifying operations in the Middle Shabelle and Hiiraan regions. On Thursday, the Ethiopian Air Force carried out rare airstrikes on Al-Shabaab positions in Middle Shabelle, signaling a renewed push following a recent thaw in Somalia-Ethiopia relations.
The police meeting follows a separate move by the Federal Government of Somalia to ban weapons and military vehicles at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, prompted by U.S. intelligence warning of a possible attack. The U.S. embassy has maintained a level-four travel advisory for Somalia, citing terrorism, crime, and kidnapping risks.
Officials said the Ramadan security plan aims to safeguard markets, mosques, and other crowded areas where Al-Shabaab has historically struck, often with devastating effect. In February, a car bomb at a Mogadishu cafe killed at least 10 people, underscoring the persistent threat despite years of counterinsurgency efforts.
Abdullahi reaffirmed the police’s resolve to counter the militants, vowing that “no effort will be spared” to protect Somalis during the sacred period.
