MOGADISHU, Somalia— Somalia’s federal government on Saturday airlifted military supplies to the central city of Dhusamareb, according to local sources, who said the weapons were intended for newly trained troops.
The forces, estimated at nearly 1,000 soldiers, recently completed training on the outskirts of the city and are expected to bolster security and ongoing operations in the Galmudug region, the sources said.
The deployment comes as authorities in Mogadishu step up efforts to improve security and advance political plans in the semi-autonomous state.
Officials aim to use the troops to help secure planned one-person, one-vote elections and to expand military operations against the extremist group al-Shabab, which still controls limited territory in parts of Galmudug.
Somalia’s National Independent Electoral Commission is preparing for direct elections in parts of the country, with Galmudug already launching voter registration.
Federal authorities have increasingly signaled their intention to move toward universal suffrage elections by 2026.
Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Karie Qoor Qoor is expected to arrive in Mogadishu in the coming hours, according to sources familiar with the matter. He has previously expressed reservations about the federal government’s election plans, though his current position remains unclear.
Local observers say opposition — both political and security-related — to the federal government’s agenda in Galmudug appears to be weakening, suggesting the region is entering a transitional phase marked by military restructuring and political pressure.
Dhusamareb has grown in strategic importance in recent months, serving as a hub for security operations in central Somalia. The city hosts key military installations, including the Somali National Army’s 21st Division command.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has previously visited the city, highlighting its importance in national security planning.
The latest shipment comes after the U.N. Security Council lifted a long-standing arms embargo on Somalia in December 2023, allowing the government greater capacity to equip its forces, although restrictions related to al-Shabab remain in place.
