Wednesday August 6, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) – Al-Shabaab militants have abducted six
herders from the Nur Fanax area in the Hiiraan region, located between the
towns of Halgan and Beledweyne, local sources reported on Wednesday.
The kidnapped individuals, all of whom are reportedly from
the Hawadle clan, were well-known pastoralists in Nur Fanax and the surrounding
areas. The motive behind the abductions remains unclear.
Local residents told media outlets that the victims had no
known ties to Somali government forces or the Macawiisley militia, a local
community force actively fighting against Al-Shabaab in the region.
The incident follows a recent clash in the area two nights
earlier, when Macawiisley fighters killed an Al-Shabaab militant and seized his
weapon. It is unclear whether the abductions are in retaliation for that
attack.
The kidnappings highlight the persistent insecurity in
central Somalia, where Al-Shabaab continues to target civilians and disrupt
local communities amid ongoing military operations against the group.