President Hassan Sheikh and Galmudug’s state leader consider to level up war on Al Shabab

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia who is in Galmudug state has engaged in talks with the state leader Ahmed Abdi Kaariye (Qoorqoor) and some of his top regional officials to level up the ongoing war on Al Shabab in Galmudug state.

The Federal Government of Somalia has initiated a total war against the group which controls many rural parts of the country. 

President Hassan sheikh told the regional officials about the current significance of eradicating Alshabab from their remaining hideouts and urged the military officials to speed up the war until it meets with its objectives.

Addressing residents during his tour, the head of state said his administration has solid plans to offer all government services to the liberated areas from Alshabab. 

The President arrived at the region yesterday to assess the security situation in Galmudug and Hiiraan. 

The region has been a frontline and active operation zone since Somali Security Forces began offensive attacks to degrade al-Shabab.

The group has recaptured insignificant towns from the Somali Army from recent clashes, declared by the US as the most successful against the group in five years. 

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been rallying for international support aimed at reducing the threat posed by al-Shabab to insignificant proportions.

Somalia is preparing to take over full responsibility of its territory in the next two years. 

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) which has over 18000 soldiers and 1000 police officers will exit Somalia and leave security roles to Somali Forces.  

ATMIS is tasked to draw down 2,000 troops by the end of December 2022 and to exit completely by December 2024. 

Al-Shabaab has carried out several attacks in Somalia since Mohamud took office, and last month launched strikes on the Ethiopian border. 

The militants were driven out of Mogadishu in 2011, but still control swathes of countryside and retain the ability to launch deadly strikes, often targeting hotels and restaurants. 

The deadliest recent attack occurred in October 2022  when two car bombs packed with explosives blew up in Mogadishu, killing over 130 people.