MUBARAK, Somalia — Troops from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), operating under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), alongside the Somali National Army (SNA), have captured a senior Al-Shabaab commander during a coordinated operation in southern Somalia.
The suspect, identified as Salaad Cusmaan Macalin, also known as “Sahm,” was apprehended on Wednesday in the north-western outskirts of Mubarak, in the Qoryoley District of the Lower Shabelle region by AUSSOM troops and the SNA’s elite Gorgor Unit 203. Macalin, 40, is described as a battalion commander within Al-Shabaab’s hierarchy.
According to military sources, he was captured while conducting reconnaissance on SNA defensive positions, allegedly in preparation for an imminent attack on Mubaraka.
He is also believed to have been operating alongside a group of fighters that included around 17 foreign militants who had recently moved from Jilib to Ugunji.
Brigadier General Jackson Kayanja, Sector One Commander, commended the troops involved in the operation, describing it as a significant breakthrough in efforts to weaken the militant group’s operational capacity.
Security analysts say the capture of a senior field commander alive could provide valuable intelligence on Al-Shabaab’s structure, recruitment networks, and planned operations, potentially aiding ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in the region.
The militant group, which has waged an insurgency in Somalia for more than a decade, continues to stage attacks targeting government forces, civilians, and international peacekeeping troops.
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The joint operation underscores continued collaboration between African Union forces and Somali troops as part of broader efforts to stabilise the country and push back insurgent control in key areas.
Brig Gen Kayanja urged local communities to support security efforts.
He called on residents and leaders in the region to cooperate with security agencies to enhance intelligence-sharing and strengthen stability.
The UPDF, under AUSSOM, has maintained a significant presence in Somalia, supporting the Somali government in operations aimed at dismantling militant networks and restoring long-term peace.
