Somalia sees surge in terror attacks due to long-delayed elections
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Staff reporter GAROWE ONLINE
- Posted On 17-02-2022, 04:52PM
MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's security minister says delays in elections and lack of information sharing by the international partners with the country’s intelligence are attributed to an increase in Al-Shabaab terrorist attacks.
Attending Garowe Online's Twitter space discussion on 'Al-Shabab resurgence and deteriorating security in Somalia’, Abdullahi Mohamed Nur has acknowledged that the government fell short in security.
The minister noted that as the government was busy with the parliamentary elections, Al-Shabaab took advantage to carry out its biggest attack on Mogadishu in nine years which killed 5 on Tuesday night.
“Despite setbacks on the security and political sectors, the government led by PM Mohamed Hussein Roble is committed to ensuring a smooth transition and bolstering the security,” said Nur.
The minister also said that the prime minister met with security and military chiefs at his office following the latest major attack in Mogadishu and instructed them to take steps to avert further terror raids.
He said the Al-Shabaab attack in Mogadishu on Tuesday midnight was a major blow to the government, but that a strong response would be forthcoming. AMISOM launched an offensive against Al-Shabaab which killed dozens of militants and it was unclear if that was the response.
When asked how to achieve a peaceful Somalia, the minister replied that the government would make every effort to wipe out Al-Shabaab, the biggest threat to security, and complete the elections.
Media crackdown
Nur pledged his security ministry will not tolerate government forces using excessive force against the press, a day after Turkish-trained Haram’ad police harassed four journalists in Mogadishu.
“The law will punish the security forces who tortured and arbitrarily arrested journalists covering the aftermath of Al-Shabaab attacks We will not tolerate the security forces to harass the media,” he added.
Several police officers have been arrested and subjected to disciplinary investigation for beating and detaining the media workers in Kahda district on Wednesday morning while they were in the line of duty.
The minister stated that the armed forces will be accountable for their actions. The spy agency NISA is often condemned for its fierce and coercive actions against critics and the independent press in Somalia.
Somalia is categorized as one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists due to the lawlessness and lack of a strong government with functioning powerful justice.
GAROWE ONLINE
