Somalia: Military parades captured Al-Shabaab militants

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali National Army [SNA] has paraded captured Al-Shabaab militants, even as the country continues to ask members of the terror group to surrender to the army, amid an ongoing crackdown against the Al-Qaida-linked group, which the country plans to eliminate completely by next year.

According to the state media, the military paraded the militants to showcase milestones made in the fight against the group which still controls large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia. The group has been in operation for the last two decades, necessitating military operations.

Those paraded were Abdirahman Fodey Kulmiye, Abdullahi Ibrahim Hassan, and Adan Ibrahim Abshi, with the military accusing them of terrorizing innocent civilians and security officers within Owswayn town which was recently seized from the militants during the operation.

"The Somali National Army which recently seized control of the Owswayn, has presented the capture of Al-Shabaab leaders to the public. Abdirahman Fodey Kulmiye, Abdullahi Ibrahim Hassan, and Adan Ibrahim Abshir have been accused of terrorizing the local population for an extended period," state media confirmed.

The militants have been under immense pressure following coordinated operations within the country, which is determined to defeat the group. Already, the military has started combing exercises targeting areas where the militants have resumed activities after the first round of operations.

Military sources say at least 3,000 militants were killed in the first phase of operations, the highest number since the crackdown started. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], the US Africa Command, and local militia have been working closely with the national army to dislodge the militants.

The second phase of operations will commence in Jubaland and Southwest states, where the Somali National Army will coordinate most of the activities. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reiterates that Somalia will overcome the resistance from the group before the government thinks of engaging them in dialogue.

GAROWE ONLINE