Somalia: FGS dispatches troops for second phase of Al-Shabaab crackdown

MOGADISHU - Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has dispatched soldiers to various front lines awaiting the second phase of a crackdown against Al-Shabaab militants, in what comes a few days to the official scale-down of soldiers serving in the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS].

The second phase will focus on the elimination of Al-Shabaab terrorists from Jubbaland and Southwest states where the militants may have shifted bases, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said. The first phase mainly focused on Galmadug and HirShabelle states which Hassan Sheikh said were "almost liberated in totality".

At Mogadishu on Sunday, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud inspected a guard of honour mounted by the newly trained soldiers whom he later flagged off to join the rest of the Somali National Army [SNA] in various frontlines ahead of the battle in Jubaland and Southwest where the militants have been waging sporadic retaliatory attacks.

"You must put Somalia ahead, her prosperity and redemption," Hassan Sheikh, who has declared total war against the militants, said. "We have a duty and responsibility to safeguard our country from these anti-progress elements who are wreaking havoc on our people."

He said that he had "no doubt that you will liberate the rest of the country as we install civilian administration for proper service delivery to Somalis". "I am more convinced than ever that you will liberate some of the strategic towns, you have the potential and capability of freeing Somalia from these demons," he added.

Recently, Somalia received a host of soldiers who graduated from various military schools in East Africa particularly in Uganda and Eritrea. In total, about 10,000 soldiers trained in foreign countries have been integrated into the Somali National Army to help in fighting Al-Shabaab militants.

Their addition comes a few weeks before the first batch of ATMIS soldiers exit the service in compliance with Somali Transition Plan [STP]. Under this plan, about 2,000 soldiers will be leaving the country with an additional 3,000 set to also vacate next month having delayed leaving, ATMIS confirmed.

Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti had pledged to dispatch non-ATMIS troops to the country to help in the second phase of clamping Al-Shabaab militants. The soldiers will be under SNA command in Mogadishu and will stay in the country for the next three months, Hassan Sheikh said in a recent interview.

Somalia is fighting to liberate several strategic towns across the country which are under Al-Shabaab control, with the first phase yielding fruits according to reports by the government. The federal government of Somalia hinted that about 3,000 Al-Shabaab militants were killed in the first phase.

GAROWE ONLINE