UPDF, Somalia army capture Senior Al-Shabaab Commander

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The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), operating under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), together with the Somali National Army (SNA), have captured a senior Al-Shabaab commander during a coordinated operation in the Mubaraka area.

Aged 40, Salaad Cusmaan Macalin, alias “Sahm,” is a battalion commander within the Al-Shabaab ranks.

He was netted on Wednesday, April 1, in the north-western outskirts of Mubaraka by AUSSOM troops and the SNA Gorgor Unit 203.

The UPDF reports that at the time of his capture, Macalin was reportedly conducting reconnaissance on SNA defensive positions in preparation for an imminent attack on Mubaraka.

He was operating alongside a group of fighters, including about 17 foreign militants who had recently moved from Jilib to Ugunji.

A release from the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs states that UPDF’s Sector One Commander, Brigadier General Jackson Kayanja, described the operation as a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to degrade Al-Shabaab capabilities in the area.

"Commending the troops for the successful operation, he urged local leaders and members of the community to continue cooperating with security forces in order to strengthen stability and enhance security," the statement added.

The UPDF troops under AUSSOM, in partnership with the Somali National Army, are on an assignment to neutralise terrorist threats and support ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace and security in Somalia.

Last month, the UPDF and Somali Forces captured Mubarak Town, which the militants were using to disrupt logistics routes and threaten civilian populations.

The operation code-named “Rolling Thunder” was designed to secure critical supply corridors, weaken Al-Shabaab operations, and re-establish stability in the area.