Somalia to start second phase of Al-Shabaab crackdown during Ramadan

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali National Army [SNA] will commence the second and perhaps the final phase of the Al-Shabaab crackdown during the Holy month of Ramadan, a senior security advisor has said, as the country makes serious progress in the fight against the group which controls parts of Somalia.

According to Kamal Dahir Hassan Gutale, the national security adviser to Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, the new operation will commence immediately just days after the army solidified bases which had been liberated from the militants, paving way for civilian rule.

It is estimated that over 600 people have been killed since the offensive started in July last year just immediately after Hassan Sheikh took over with several towns also liberated in the process. The Somali National Army has been getting support from US Africa Command, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia and the local militia.

The new offensive comes just days after the commissioning of over 8,000 cadets who have joined the national army. The first set of 5000 soldiers was trained in Eritrea while 3,000 others were ushered on on Sunday from Uganda. The country is keen to increase the current force to over 30,000 from the current 18,000.

Besides the military battle, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud maintained that he is keen to push for ideological tactics by involving clerics who are important in shaping the narrative. Also, the government is now targeting Al-Shabaab's revenue sources which have sustained operations by the group.

At Kampala on Sunday, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud emphasized that the government's top priority is to reform the National Army, which serves as the foundation for the country's governance, and to achieve a swift victory in the fight against terrorism. The new recruits will be integrated into the army immediately.

Ethiopia and Egypt have also pledged to train more soldiers so that the country can easily take over security responsibilities from foreign troops from December 2024. The government has also closed down over 250 bank accounts and 70 mobile money transfer firms for claims they are funding Al-Shabaab.

The second phase is still expected to focus on central parts and southern Somalia where the militants have gradually started losing their bases. Somalia has been unstable for the last three decades and there is general concern from members of the international community who want peace to be restored.

GAROWE ONLINE