Somalia cabinet detonates salary to soldiers in Al-Shabaab war

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali cabinet ministers have donated their October salary to the soldiers on the frontlines as the war against Al-Shabaab gathers momentum, in a kind gesture that showcases the commitment of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in the battle against the militants.

When he took over power from Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed better known as Farmajo, Hassan Sheikh declared total war on Al-Shabaab militants, noting that a stable Somalia hugely depends on the sacrifice made in the fight against the group.

Since then, tremendous effort has been made in the battle, with the Somali National Army [SNA] working closely with the US Africa Command and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] to reclaim sections of central and southern Somalia, which had need under the militants.

According to the state media, the cabinet decided to donate their October salaries following a meeting with Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, who is the leader of the government. The donation will supplement what the government pays the Somali National Army on the battlefield.

"The council of ministers donated their full October pay to support the National Armed Forces in their anti-terrorist operations, as it was announced during their Thursday’s weekly meeting chaired by PM," state media reports.

Several soldiers who have been training in Eritrea and Uganda have since returned home to join their colleagues on the battlefield. Already, the United States, the European Union, and other stakeholders have pledged to support the army to reclaim some of the sections still under Al-Shabaab.

The second phase of operations against the Al-Shabaab is set to start soon, with the government targeting Jubaland and Southwest states. The group has been neutralized significantly in several parts of the country, with the government announcing that over 3,000 have been killed in the last 12 months.

GAROWE ONLINE