By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Buulo Mareer, 16 September 16, 2026 Somali security forces, the African Union mission and local authorities held a meeting in Buulo Mareer aimed at strengthening civilian protection and security cooperation in the Lower Shabelle region.
The talks focused on protecting communities and critical infrastructure, securing major roads and improving information sharing to enable a rapid response to security threats, the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), said on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by Kurtunwaarey District Commissioner Ibrahim Haji Hussein; Lieutenant Colonel Don Naijuka, commander of AUSSOM’s Ugandan 143rd Infantry Battalion; Major Farah, commander of the Somali National Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion; and representatives of the Danab Brigade.
Hussein called for closer cooperation among local authorities, community elders, young people and security forces to strengthen safety and stability.
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Naijuka said coordination between AUSSOM and Somali forces was essential to protecting communities and promoting stability in Lower Shabelle.
Farah reaffirmed the partnership between Somali and AUSSOM forces, according to the mission’s statement.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to deepen cooperation and strengthen civilian protection across Lower Shabelle.
Buulo Mareer lies in Lower Shabelle, a region where Somali and African Union forces have fought Al-Shabaab for years. The town is currently under the control of the Somali federal government.