Baidoa, Somalia – April 17, 2025

By a Local Correspondent  Baidoa

In a powerful show of defiance, residents of Baidoa gathered today in the city square to display the bodies of several Al-Shabaab militants killed in a joint military operation by the Somali National Army and the South West State’s elite Dervish forces.

The offensive, which took place early this morning in the Deynuunay area of Bay region, targeted Al-Shabaab militants who had launched an assault on the nearby area of Mayo-Fuulka, approximately 25 kilometers from Baidoa. According to military sources, 20 militants were killed in the operation, and a number of others were wounded.

In a rare and symbolic act, 10 of the deceased, including a foreign fighter, were dragged into Baidoa’s central square, where residents gathered for a public demonstration. The display was both a show of solidarity with government forces and a stark warning to the extremist group.

“The people are tired of living in fear,” said a local elder during the rally. “Today we have shown that the tide is turning.”

Al-Shabaab, which is designated a terrorist organization by Somalia, the United States, and other international bodies, has been steadily losing territory in recent months as Somali government forces intensify their campaign to liberate key regions under militant control.

Security analysts say today’s event in Baidoa underscores a shift in public sentiment. “This kind of public display is rare in Somalia and reflects growing confidence in the government’s ability to defeat Al-Shabaab,” said one regional expert.

The Somali government continues to press forward with operations across South West State and other regions, vowing to eliminate the group’s presence and restore stability to long-affected communities.

Telegaraf News