Somali forces arrested senior al-Shabaab leader Ali Geelle in Galgadud, seizing weapons and a vehicle. Geelle was involved in extortion and child recruitment.

Somalia announced on Wednesday the arrest of a senior member of the al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist organization al-Shabaab in the central Galgadud region. The Somali National Army (SNA) successfully apprehended Ali Geelle, a key ringleader of the group, during a military operation in Galhareeri district, according to a statement from the country's Defense Ministry.

The operation also resulted in the seizure of a vehicle, a firearm, and ammunition. The Ministry highlighted that Geelle had been heavily involved in extortion and the recruitment of children for al-Shabaab, a terror outfit notorious for its brutal tactics and manipulation of vulnerable populations.

This arrest is part of a broader effort by the Somali National Army, which has been working in coordination with local militias to combat al-Shabaab in the south-central provinces of the country. Over the past two and a half years, these joint forces have liberated significant portions of territory previously held by the group, including the strategically important coastal town of Haradhere in the Mudug region.

Somalia has been grappling with severe insecurity for years, with al-Shabaab and the Daesh/ISIS terrorist groups posing the greatest threats. Al-Shabaab, which has been waging an insurgency against the Somali government since 2007, continues to carry out attacks across the country. The group is also in conflict with the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), a multinational peacekeeping force authorized by the African Union and the UN Security Council.

In recent months, al-Shabaab has escalated its attacks, particularly after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an "all-out war" on the group. Despite these challenges, the government, along with its military and local allies, remains committed to dismantling the terror network and restoring peace and stability to the region.