The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), in collaboration with Somali Government forces, has announced on August 3 the killing of over 50 al-Shabab militants during a major offensive on last Friday in Bariire, a strategic town in southern Somalia.
In a statement released from Mogadishu on Sunday, AUSSOM dismissed media claims of significant casualties among its troops, clarifying that the operation—launched on 1 August—was aimed at reclaiming Bariire, located approximately 60 km southwest of the capital. The mission also refuted al-Shabab’s assertions of AU equipment losses and a forced retreat.
According to AUSSOM, the coordinated assault dealt a severe blow to the terrorist group, leaving many insurgents dead or wounded. Bariire, known for its agricultural value and strategic positioning in the Lower Shabelle region, has long been a contested zone. Local accounts described Friday’s clashes as among the fiercest in recent days. El Hadji Ibrahima Boly Diene, the AU Commission Chairperson’s special representative and head of AUSSOM, reaffirmed the mission’s commitment to retaking al-Shabab strongholds and restoring stability across Somalia’s restive regions.