The militant group al-Shabab has seized control of Mahaas, a critical town in central Somalia, after launching a violent assault involving multiple suicide bombings and ground attacks, according to local reports and witnesses.

Mahaas, located in the Hiraan region approximately 350 kilometers north of Mogadishu, had served as a key government outpost in the fight against al-Shabab insurgents. Residents and local officials reported that government forces and allied local militias, known as Ma’awisley, withdrew shortly before the militants entered the town on Sunday.

“There were multiple suicide blasts just outside the town early this morning, and heavy gunfire followed,” said Ahmed Abdulle, a local elder, speaking to Somali media. The assault marked a significant setback for federal forces, who had held Mahaas for over a decade.

Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the takeover through its affiliated media channels, stating that it had assumed full control of the town. Although official casualty figures remain unconfirmed, the district commissioner of Mahaas, Isse Abdi Wayel, confirmed that a representative of the National Intelligence and Security Agency was among those killed.

The federal government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.

Terrorism Surges Across East African Region

The fall of Mahaas comes amid a broader campaign by the Somali government, supported by African Union forces and U.S. airstrikes, to dislodge al-Shabab from its remaining strongholds. In the past year, Somali forces have reclaimed various rural towns and villages in both Hiraan and neighboring Galgaduud regions. However, the loss of Mahaas now raises serious concerns over military coordination and the sustainability of recent territorial gains.

“This town served as a forward operating base in offensives targeting key al-Shabab positions,” said a security analyst in Mogadishu. “Its fall signals a major lapse in planning and coordination among security actors.”

Despite facing mounting pressure from federal offensives and international forces, al-Shabab continues to demonstrate its resilience. The group, which aims to topple Somalia’s government and impose a strict version of Islamic law, has carried out numerous attacks across the country and in neighboring Kenya.

In March, al-Shabab militants launched a deadly assault on a police camp in Garissa, northeastern Kenya, killing six officers and injuring several more. The attack reignited concerns over cross-border infiltration and the group’s expanding reach despite years of counterinsurgency efforts.

At the same time, intelligence agencies in Kenya and Tanzania have detained suspected ISIS operatives and sympathizers in recent months, highlighting the growing threat posed by multiple extremist factions in the region. INTERPOL and local authorities have pointed to increasing activity from ISIS affiliates, including recruitment, fundraising, and digital propaganda aimed at radicalizing youth through encrypted messaging platforms.

“Extremist groups are exploiting the perfect storm of political instability, high youth unemployment, and marginalization,” said a regional security expert. “While intelligence-sharing and military cooperation have improved, the underlying conditions driving radicalization are still unaddressed.”

The humanitarian fallout from these surging attacks is severe. In addition to the displacement of families, communities are experiencing food insecurity, kidnappings, and economic collapse. Aid agencies such as the International Peace Institute and the United Nations have issued urgent appeals for investment in both counterterror operations and community-based prevention programs.

Without such support, they warn, the cycle of violence will deepen, threatening not only the stability of Somalia but the broader East African region.

As the situation in Mahaas illustrates, gains made on the battlefield remain fragile. Analysts argue that only a combination of sustained military pressure, regional cooperation, and social investment will offer any hope of halting the advance of al-Shabab and other extremist factions.