In a significant move to address the persistent threat posed by the militant group Al-Shabaab, the commanders of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) Land Forces and the Somali National Army (SNA) have jointly decided to implement a curfew on the highway from Afgoye to Barawe in the lower Shabelle region. The curfew, effective immediately, will restrict the movement of vehicles and motorcycles during nighttime hours.
The decision was reached during a meeting held at the Goloweyn Forward Operating Base, where Lieutenant General Kayanja Muhanga, the commander of UPDF Land Forces, and General Odowaa Yusuf Rageh, the Chief of Defense Forces of the Somali National Army, gathered with commanders and troops serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in sector one.
The primary objective behind imposing restrictions on nighttime vehicle movement is to disrupt Al-Shabaab’s ability to employ Vehicle Borne Improvised Devices (VBIEDs) as weapons for carrying out complex attacks. This move comes in the wake of a recent attack on a UPDF forward operating base in Buulo Mareer, situated approximately 120km southwest of Mogadishu in the Lower Shabelle region, where the extremist group utilized a VBIED to perpetrate the assault.
Both generals emphasized the necessity of collaboration between ground commanders and local leaders to enforce the ban on vehicle and motorcycle movement during the designated nighttime hours. By doing so, they hope to deny Al-Shabaab the opportunity to launch attacks on Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) by using vehicles loaded with explosives.
Lt Gen Muhanga, who is currently in Somalia to investigate the deadly attack on the UPDF base, assured the troops that the findings of the investigation would guide future decisions and actions. The investigation team comprises Colonel Stuart Agaba, the Director of Operations in the Land Forces, Colonel Elvis Byamukama, the movement control commander, and Lieutenant Colonel Albert Kashakamba, the Director of Intelligence in the Land Forces.
The implementation of this curfew aligns with the ongoing investigations conducted by both the UPDF and AMISOM into the attack on the Ugandan army forward operating base. The assault, which occurred on Friday morning, resulted in the loss of several soldiers and the capture of others as prisoners of war by Al-Shabaab militants. Despite recent setbacks suffered by the group at the hands of AMISOM forces, this attack serves as a reminder of the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab. The investigation findings will be submitted to the President of Uganda, who also serves as the Commander-in-Chief, for further action.
The curfew on the Afgoye to Barawe highway represents a proactive measure by the UPDF and SNA to enhance security in the lower Shabelle region and prevent future attacks by Al-Shabaab. By curtailing nighttime vehicle movement, the military forces aim to impede the group’s ability to exploit VBIEDs, thereby safeguarding the lives of both military personnel and civilians.
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