Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has arrived in Aden Yabal, a town in the Middle Shabelle region, about 245 km north of the capital, Mogadishu.
In military uniform, he received a warm welcome and met Somali Army Chief Brig. Gen. Odawa Yusuf and other officials.
Tuesday’s visit aims to boost troop morale and accelerate operations against Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked group.
Before departing Mogadishu, President Mohamud’s convoy was hit by a roadside bomb explosion.
He was unharmed. However, one of his bulletproof vehicles was partially destroyed.
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked group, claimed responsibility for the explosion.
Since mid-last month, Al-Shabaab has intensified attacks in the Middle Shabelle and Hiran regions to regain lost ground.
Driven out of Mogadishu in 2011, the al-Qaeda-linked group continues to carry out deadly attacks.
For over a decade, the militant group has been battling to impose a hardline interpretation of Sharia law in Somalia.
Al-Shabaab still controls large swaths of southern and central Somalia.
