PM: Somalia will be free from Al-Shabaab soon

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Federal Republic of Somalia will be free from Al-Shabaab, debt, and instability, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has predicted, noting that it won't take a long time before the country reverts to normalcy after three decades of chaos and general mismanagement.

For the last three decades, Somalia has been fighting against a host of setbacks including but not limited to Al-Shabaab, a group that has been pushing to control the fragile UN-backed federal government, but which is yet to succeed. Al-Shabaab is currently on defense following the activation of the second phase of operations against them.

In a recent address to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], Barre, who is the right-hand man of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, said the African Union component has been instrumental in helping the country restore order and stability which it has yearned for years.

Barre, who is the head of government, said that a lot has been achieved in the war against the terror group adding that the government of Denmark has played a key role in liberating over 70 towns and villages previously held by the group in central parts and southern Somalia.

“We hope to see a new Somalia in the near future; a Somalia free of Al-Shabaab and political instability. We are proud of our partners who have supported our goals towards achieving these goals,” he said.

The Prime Minister also observed that the Danish government has been at the front in the war adding that neighboring countries have also played a major role in liberating Somali from the Al-Shabaab group. Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti had pledged to send additional troops to the Horn of Africa nation.

Already, Ethiopia had dispatched thousands of soldiers who will participate in the second phase of the operations. Recently, Al-Shabaab denied claims that they have been defeated, daring government to activate the second phase, which it promised a "mother of all duels" in the history of the country.

Last week, the government announced that the group's revenues have dwindled substantively, but did not give data to prove the claims. According to the US Africa Command, the group has been able to collect $120 million annually up from $100 million in 2022 with $24 million set aside for purchasing sophisticated weapons.

GAROWE ONLINE