Somalia: Citizens must join war against Al-Shabaab, Farmajo says

MOGADISHU, Somalia - In a rare show of solidarity, former Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed better known as Farmajo has joined calls in the fight against Al-Shabaab, arguing that every Somalia citizen should show support to the military which is currently running the operations.

Farmajo's sentiments coincide with those of Sharif Sheikh Ahmed who also echoed calls for the war against Al-Shabaab, noting that Somalia should "stand firm against these criminals who have spoiled our reputation". Sharif was in charge of the country when Al-Shabaab was flushed out of Mogadishu.

In a lengthy post, Farmajo maintained that citizens had a role in helping the military to crush the militants, whom he termed as "enemies of peace and unity". The Al-Shabaab militants have been fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia.

"I call on every Somali citizen to support the struggle for the liberation of the country and participate in encouraging and raising the morale of the national heroes, as the unity of the army and the people is the key to
the success of the war against terrorism."

This call for unity comes at a critical juncture in Somali politics. The supporters of former President Farmajo's government and the current President Hassan Shiekh's government have been engaged in a heated debate on social media.

The contention primarily revolves around managing the war against Al-Shabaab, especially in the central regions of Somalia. The government had activated the first phase of operations against the group in HirShabelle and Galmadug states, and in recent weeks, the military has been combing some of the areas where the militants are still in charge.

Critics from both sides have been blaming each other for perceived failures. At the same time, some voices in the discourse argue that the accusations against The Villa Somalia are counterproductive and detrimental to the fight against Al-Shabaab.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared "total" war against Al-Shabaab militants, arguing that the group is defeatable with a concerted effort from all stakeholders. Apart from military offensives, the government has also invested heavily in blocking Al-Shabaab's revenue sources across the country.

Through abundant revenue collection, Al-Shabaab militants are able to facilitate their activities across Somalia and in the region. Since taking over, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has managed to close over 250 bank accounts and several mobile money transfer firms associated with the militants.

GAROWE ONLINE