AUSSOM commander Lt. Gen. Sam Kavuma says Al-Shabaab has failed to seize territory from Somali and AU forces since March 2025, while warning that the group remains a major threat.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — Al-Shabaab has failed to seize territory from Somali government and African Union forces since March last year, while joint forces have recaptured several areas from the militant group, the commander of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), Lieutenant General Sam Kavuma, said.
In an exclusive interview, Kavuma said AUSSOM and Somali forces had carried out a series of operations that pushed Al-Shabaab out of strategic positions including Sabiid, Bariire, Awdheegle, Mubaarak and Daarusalaam.
The joint forces recaptured Bariire in August 2025 after an offensive dubbed Operation Silent Storm. The operation followed the earlier recapture of Sabiid and Anole, while Awdheegle was also brought under government control. In March this year, Somali and AUSSOM forces captured Mubaarak and Daarusalaam in Lower Shabelle. (UPDF)
Kavuma said the group had lost territory, fighters and military commanders during the period, developments he said had affected the morale of its fighters.
Despite the territorial gains, however, the AUSSOM commander said Al-Shabaab remained a major threat to Somalia because it was not simply an armed group but also an ideology that required a broader response from the government and Somali society.
“The guns alone cannot end the Al-Shabaab problem,” Kavuma said, arguing that military operations needed to be accompanied by efforts addressing security, economic conditions, food security, healthcare, the environment and other social challenges.
His remarks come as Somali forces and AUSSOM continue operations in southern and central Somalia as part of a broader transition intended to place primary responsibility for national security in the hands of Somali forces.
Kavuma stressed that the overall campaign against Al-Shabaab was Somali-led, with AUSSOM providing support to the Somali security forces. Although AU troops sometimes lead individual military operations, he said the strategic direction of the broader campaign remained the responsibility of Somalia.
The commander also warned that Somali forces needed sufficient personnel, equipment and logistical support before assuming full responsibility for security following the eventual drawdown of AUSSOM forces.
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He identified three key capabilities that Somalia needs to strengthen: adequate ground forces, an air capability that includes intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, and a naval force capable of protecting the country's long coastline.
Funding shortages could also affect AUSSOM's ability to conduct operations, Kavuma said. He warned that any reduction in financial or logistical support could have consequences across the mission.
He said the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) currently provides about 85 percent of the supplies and other support used by AUSSOM. If that assistance were to end without an alternative mechanism being put in place, he said, the impact on the mission could be significant.
Kavuma also cautioned against withdrawing troops from a location without first assessing the security situation and the strength of Al-Shabaab in the area.
Forces should not leave a position while the militant group retains a significant capacity to operate there, he said, adding that any withdrawal should follow a comprehensive assessment of the security environment.
The AUSSOM commander said he did not have full visibility into Al-Shabaab's plans for Somalia's security transition but believed the group could seek to exploit any gaps created during changes in the security architecture.
He said Somali forces would therefore need sufficient capabilities to fill positions vacated by AUSSOM, particularly in ground forces, logistics, air support and maritime security.
Kavuma said Somalia's future would ultimately depend on decisions made by Somalis themselves, urging political and other stakeholders to resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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