Defense Ministry: Over 3,000 Al-Shabaab militants killed in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Operations against Al-Shabaab may have left over 3,000 militants dead, a report tabled by the ministry of defense shows, as the Somali National Army [SNA] prepares for the second phase of operations against the Al-Qaida linked group which has been terrorizing citizens in the country for the last 16 years.

In a statement, the ministry further said over 3,700 militants have been critically injured in the operations which have been coordinated systematically by the national army, US Africa Command, African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] and local militia. The first phase ended recently as the government prepares for the second phase.

The operation, the Department of Defense added, has led to liberation of about 70 strategic towns and villages in the Horn of Africa nation. The government is currently trying to push for civilian rule in the liberated towns to avoid return of the group which has been trying to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government.

Within the next few weeks, the ministry confirmed, the Somali National Army will launch operations within Mogadishu geared towards making the city safe. The militants often carry out sporadic attacks within the capital, in what is geared towards scaring investors and stakeholders.n

The government has indicated that the operation aims to protect the city and its civilians during this Holy Month of Ramadan and ensure people's safety is not disturbed. Mogadishu was previously controlled by the militants before Ethiopian troops flushed them out in 2007.

"The country inches closer to the second phase of this military offensive against the terror group that has visited havoc, ruin, and pain on Somali citizens for the past decade," reads the statement, which comes days before the second phase of operations is unveiled.

"The Federal Government of Somalia stands by its commitment to ensuring that the Somali National Army is carrying out the ongoing operations in strict compliance with its obligations under international humanitarian law, human rights law, Islamic law, and Somali customary rules of warfare."

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has also been keen to win ideological front by investing in religious scholars who are preaching against violent extremism. The government is also targeting Al-Shabaab's source of revenue and already, 250 bank accounts and 70 mobile money transfer firms linked to the group have been closed down.

More troops will be dispatched from Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti as the neighbors pledged to help the government sustain operations against the militants. The government is targeting the central and southern regions in the war, where the Al-Shabaab have a huge influence.

GAROWE ONLINE