Gen. Carlo de Simone brought forward what reinforcements he could to join the shattered remnants of 102nd Somali Division at Modun on the coastal road to Mogadishu. The experienced general had no illusion that he could hold the important port city, but hoped to gain enough time to evacuate vitally-needed troops and supplies to the interior: the Italian colonial forces had no hope of re-supply from home, and lost fuel or ammunition could not be replaced. Adding to the general’s woes, the Royal Navy took a hand in the campaign for the first time.

Despite the growing disenchantment of even the tough Somali colonial regulars, De Simone’s men did somehow manage to halt 22nd East African Brigade for most of the day. But given the shattered state of the division’s remnants De Simone chose to withdraw and the relatively fresh 23rd Nigerian Brigade took over the advance and entered Mogadishu on the 25th.