Women in Somalia lauded for supporting Al-Shabaab crackdown

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali women have been lauded for their resilience in the fight against Al-Shabaab, a group that is wreaking havoc in the Horn of Africa nation, which is ranked as one of the most insecure nations around the globe due to the presence of the terror group.

Salah Ahmed Jama, the Deputy Prime Minister of the federal government of Somalia, said the contributions of women in supporting the fight against Al-Shabaab were crucial at the time Somalia was actively involved in the operations.

Jama insisted that women also play a key role in economic development, business, and in production of goods within the country. The government, he said, is working hard to promote gender mainstreaming, especially in the political arena.

For the last 12 months, Somalia has been involved in an active Al-Shabaab war, with the military making progress in central regions within the HirShabelle and Galmadug states. The government of Somalia says over 3,000 militants have been killed since then.

Once operations in Galmadug and HirShabelle are concluded, the government says the national army with the help of the US Africa Command and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], will dispatch troops to Jubaland and Southwest states for similar operations.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud recently asked for a technical pause on the withdrawal of ATMIS troops from the country due to logistical challenges. It is anticipated that the group will have been defeated by December 2024 once the foreign missions exit.

Throughout the last 12 months and even before, women's groups have been actively involved in preparing and providing food for the government's army to show solidarity and boost morale during these critical operations. The government says several regions have since been liberated.

GAROWE ONLINE