In a significant blow to Somalia’s ongoing security efforts, Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab seized control of the strategic town of Maxaas on Sunday, following intense clashes with the Somali National Army and allied local militias.

Located approximately 300 kilometers north of the capital Mogadishu, Maxaas serves as a key logistical and transport hub in central Somalia. Military sources confirmed that Al-Shabaab, which is affiliated with Al-Qaeda, launched a major assault using car bombs and heavily armed fighters. The Somali army described its withdrawal as a “tactical retreat” to pre-established defensive positions outside the town.

According to local commanders, including Mohamed Dahir, the joint government and militia forces mounted fierce resistance on the town’s outskirts before being overpowered. Sporadic gunfire was still reported near the area as of Sunday evening, with local fighters promising renewed counteroffensives.

Maxaas had been under the control of Ethiopian forces from the African Union’s peacekeeping mission until their withdrawal in August 2024, after which the Somali National Army took over the town’s security.

The fall of Maxaas marks another major gain for Al-Shabaab, which has recaptured dozens of towns and villages since the beginning of 2025, effectively rolling back the government’s military advances from 2022 and 2023. The government, now leaning heavily on support from local militia groups, faces growing challenges in maintaining territorial control amid the group’s resurging insurgency.

As the situation unfolds, all eyes remain on how Somali forces and their allies respond to this latest escalation.