(10 June 2025) BALAD-HAWO (Halqabsi News) – The Somali National Army (SNA) staged a military parade in Balad-Hawo town, Gedo region, on Tuesday, as part of preparations for an anticipated offensive targeting Al-Shabaab strongholds.
Troops from the 10th Battalion of the 43rd Division, fully armed and combat-ready, marched through the town in a show of strength. Defence officials said the soldiers had received specialised counterterrorism training and would soon be deployed in operations aimed at securing the Gedo corridor and eradicating remaining militant threats.
Speaking during the parade, battalion commander Colonel Osman Sheikh Abdi Qorax urged troops to uphold discipline and prioritise civilian protection during combat operations. “The safety of the people is central to our mission,” he told the assembled soldiers.
While the Ministry of Defence framed the mobilisation as part of a nationwide anti-Al-Shabaab campaign, analysts note the move comes amid ongoing political tensions in Gedo. Both federal and Jubbaland-aligned forces maintain a presence in the area, and the deployment is being viewed by some as an attempt to assert federal control ahead of renewed military action.
Halqabsi News
