Somali Army Presses Al-Shabaab in Somalia Amid AU Mission Transition

Somali National Army soldiers during training in Mogadishu last month. Amaury Falt-Brown / AFP via Getty Images

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali National Army (SNA) has continued to press the Al-Shabaab militants in deep central and southern regions, just in the middle of the ongoing transition of the foreign mission, which helps the local forces to stabilise the country.

On Monday, Land Forces Commander Gen Sahal Abdullahi Omar visited parts of Middle Shabelle where he oversaw the fight against Al-Shabaab. The commander motivated the soldiers who were on the field ahead of the deployment of soldiers from the new mission.

"The Somali National Army Land Forces Commander, General Sahal Abdullahi Omar, is in Middle Shabelle to oversee the campaign against al-Shabaab," state media reports. "After visiting Garsaalo in Jowhar district, he urged the 3rd and 25th Brigades to strengthen counter-terrorism measures."

Al-Shabaab militants, although quite degraded in central and southern regions, still pose a danger to civilians and military officers, officials said. The group has, however, lost strategic towns over time according to security reports.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has promised a smooth transition following the approval of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) which replaces the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

During the recent trip to Djibouti, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud expressed satisfaction with the transition which would later pave the way for the Somali National Army (SNA) that take primary responsibility of protecting civilians.

"During his official visit to Djibouti, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced the commencement of a short-term interim operation, known as the African Union-Somalia Transition Mission (AUSSOM)," state media reports.

"The initiative follows the conclusion of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and marks a critical phase as Somalia progresses toward full security control under the Somali Armed Forces."

There is still anxiety on whether the Ethiopian troops would continue serving in the new mission after Mogadishu and Addis Ababa reconciled in Turkey, with Egypt also pushing to be part of the team. Burundi wants the allocation of troops to be increased to 2,000 from the current 1100.

GAROWE ONLINE