By Hanad Abdi - Reporter
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MOGADISHU, 27 October 2026 — Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has called for an independent, transparent investigation into military losses following fighting on Monday in Jamea, Bay region, amid differing accounts of the battle.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Sharif said recurring military losses raised questions about operational planning, intelligence, preparedness and the independence of the military command.
He called for an investigation to establish the causes of the losses and identify anyone responsible for negligence or orders that disregarded professional military advice. He also urged that the military command be protected from political interference.
“The lives of Somali soldiers must not be gambled with or used to serve political ambitions and personal interests,” he said in the statement.
The federal government, meanwhile, said its forces killed nearly 75 Al-Shabaab members and wounded another 56 in Jamea, an area in Buurhakaba district. It described the fighting as part of Operation Banooda.
Differing accounts have emerged about the course of the battle and the resulting losses. The casualty figures have not been independently verified.