Al-Shabaab attacks reduce by 70% in Somalia, says Govt

The broad coalition of fighters is chasing al-Shabaab from it's traditional heartlands [Getty images]

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The number of Al-Shabaab attacks waged in Somalia has drastically reduced over the last six months due to robust security arrangements, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre told the cabinet on Thursday, while lauding the army for their "invaluable sacrifices".

While addressing the cabinet, Barre, who is in charge of the government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, said the attacks have reduced by 70 percent, an indication that the country is slowly heading back to safety should the operations against your group get sustained.

According to him, the government managed to secure the capital Mogadishu during the Holy month of Ramadan. Previously, Al-Shabaab launched dangerous attacks in the city and other urban centers, killing hundreds of people.

The PM added the government troops with the help of the local clan militias have managed to liberate over 80 villages and towns previously under Al-Shabaab. Civilian rule is currently being installed in the recaptured areas.

AS African Union troops and the Somali army hold the majority of urban centers in Somalia, "al-Shabab maintains direct control or influence over vast swaths of the hinterland and is able to cut off main supply routes" and isolate government pockets.

Security experts believe that Al-Shabab extremists in Somalia despite being ejected from the large ground, still remain "a potent threat" to national security and East African regional peace.

During a town hall event in Mogadishu the previous night, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stated that the government is planning to start the second phase of the offensive against Al-Shabaab with troops from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti expected to join.

Mohamud said the non-ATMIS troops will be operating under the supervision of the Somali National Army from Mogadishu as they will serve for a period of three months.

ATMIS troops are expected to start withdrawing from the country from June 2023, with the first batch of 2000 expected to leave. The African Union anticipates that by December 2024, the Somali National Army would have assumed security responsibilities.

GAROWE ONLINE