AiBot
ADDIS ABABA/Nairobi – In a significant development in Somalia, Ethiopian troops have formally handed control of the Buurhakaba forward operating base in the country’s Bay region to the Somali National Army’s 60th Division. This milestone marks the culmination of a gradual transition process and brings an end to roughly 12 years of continuous Ethiopian presence at the base since 2014.
Buurhakaba, situated approximately 60 km from Baidoa, holds strategic importance due to its location on the main Mogadishu-Baidoa logistics corridor. The base has been a crucial asset in the efforts against the extremist group Al-Shabaab, which has been a formidable force in the region.
Given Buurhakaba’s location, its handover to the Somali National Army’s 60th Division is expected to have implications for regional security. Local reporting suggests that the base is effectively surrounded by Al-Shabaab militants, with a notably sparse presence of Somali forces and widespread fear among residents.
Further withdrawals or handovers of key bases in the sector reportedly loom on the horizon. Sources have indicated that the Ethiopian military is slated to formally withdraw troops from Baidoa, Wajid, and Diinsoor in the near future. These developments follow recent setbacks suffered by Somali and Ethiopian forces. In January, the extremist group overran the Teedan base in Hiiraan Region. This, coupled with the fall of Mahas in 2025, demonstrates the complex, ongoing struggle against Al-Shabaab’s insurgency.
The handover of Buurhakaba, however, also underscores a commitment towards long-term stability and trust-building between regional forces in Somalia. It is crucial that the Somali National Army can successfully maintain control of this area and other key locations in the face of ongoing Al-Shabaab attacks.
The future trajectory of the sector heavily depends on the success of Somali forces and the effectiveness of regional partnerships aimed at addressing security concerns. The gradual withdrawal of Ethiopian troops, following a prolonged period of occupation, may provide the Somali National Army with an essential opportunity to strengthen local defense capabilities and assert its authority in areas such as Bay and Hiiraan regions.