Somalia banks on Arab League in Al-Shabaab war

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Arab League countries should invest in the fight against violent extremism in Somalia, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said, while referring to declining support from Western nations, which have reduced their engagements.

Through an open letter to Asharq Al-Awsat, the London-based Arab Daily paper, Hassan Sheikh admits challenges in fighting Al-Shabaab and ISIS militants, adding that the group's continued activities shall destabilise the Horn of Africa region.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has previously survived assassination attempts waged by the Al-Shabaab militants. According to him, the support from the wealthy Arab League countries would significantly impact the fight against the groups.

The Somali leader also said the local forces have intercepted drones and weapons being smuggled to the country from Yemen through the Houthis, who allegedly have direct links with the al-Shabaab and ISIS militants.

These assertions, which have not been independently verified and have not previously appeared in public intelligence reports, appeared designed to galvanise concern among Arab powers about the transnational dimension of Somalia’s militant threats.

Somalia forces, he added, have made significant gains in the fight against Al-Shabaab, despite a series of setbacks in recent weeks. The government troops lost the strategic Adan Yabaal town within the Middle Shabelle region recently. He lauded regional forces in Puntland for putting ISIS militants at bay.

Support from the Arab world is now not only necessary — it is indispensable, Mohamud wrote, warning that without enhanced cooperation, ISIS remnants entrenched in Somalia’s northeast could flee by sea to the Arabian Peninsula.

Egypt deployed troops to Somalia recently, who will take part in the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), and the country, a senior member of the Arab League, has volunteered to support the government troops.

The appeal also comes at a time when several countries are showing interest in Somalia, ranging from oil to trade. Turkey, a key supporter of the Arab League countries, has also been a major security and development partner of Somalia for the last 15 years.

GAROWE ONLINE