Hirshabelle leaders visit newly liberated Masjid Ali Gadudd Village

Federal and State leaders from Hirshabelle State have visited the newly liberated town of Masjid Ali Gaduud which was removed from the hands of the Somali militants group al-Shabab.

The Somali National Army with the help of the local people took control of the Ali Gadud Mosque area in the Middle Shabelle on Sunday.

Danab, the US specially trained forces of Somalia conducted the offensive operation targeting the Al-Shabaab militants according to the minister of Information of the Federal Government of Somalia. 

The Governor for the Middle Shabelle Region Ahmed Meyre Makaran led military and other senior officials of the Somali Government in assessing the situation of the town.

The Governor has appealed for help to respond to the civilian population who are lacking basic human needs like healthcare and education.

“We have successfully managed to remove the militants who had controlled this town. They were an occupation and we are happy that we have removed them from Masjid Ali Gadud where they occupied for 15 years,” said Governor Ahmed Makaran.

Masjid Ali Gaduud has been a frontline between Somali Forces who have instituted a Forward Operating Base and al-Shabab which has been controlling the town.

Hundreds of Militants were killed in the operation to flush out the group which has besieged governments in Mogadishu for close to 15 years. 

The successful offensive follows recents military advancements by the Somali Army in pursuit of al-Shabab to remove them from parts of central and southern Somalia. 

The liberation of the latest Town came just a day after Somalia’s government said the military forced al-Shabab out of 30 villages in clashes this month that killed more than 200 militants.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud responded to the deadly siege by announcing a “total war” against the militants. 

The Somali Government has issued an urgent plea for international help for wounded victims of devastating car bombings at the weekend that claimed the lives of 100 people.

The attack tests the government’s ability to secure the conflict-weary nation, including the capital of nearly 2.5 million people.

Al-Shabaab fighters have stepped up their attacks in Somalia since Mohamud was elected in May and vowed an “all-out-war” on the Islamists.