Ethiopian troops formally handed control of the Buurhakaba forward operating base in Somalia's Bay region to the Somali National Army's 60th Division. It ends roughly 12 years of continuous Ethiopian presence at the base since 2014. Buurhakaba sits about 60 km from Baidoa on the main Mogadishu-Baidoa logistics corridor, making it one of the more important bases used against Al-Shabaab in the sector. Further Ethiopian handovers or withdrawals from Baidoa, Wajid, and Diinsoor are reportedly expected. Al-Shabaab recently overran the Teedan base in Hiiraan after a similar handover, and Mahas fell in 2025 following Ethiopian withdrawal. Local reporting notes Buurhakaba is effectively surrounded by Al-Shabaab, with limited Somali force presence and fear among residents.