Somalia: New strategy to defeat Al-Shabaab unveiled

Al-Shabaab’s recruits at a passing-out parade in Afgoye last year (Reuters)

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A regional approach has been undertaken to cure the Al-Shabaab menace in Somalia, a sharp drift from the initial approach in which Somalia and peacekeepers from the African Union have been struggling to contain the militants, who control huge swathes of rural central and southern Somalia.

In the new approach, it has emerged, that neighboring countries will contribute soldiers who are not part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] as part of the strategy to annihilate the militants, who have started losing ground on several fronts.

The Temporary operation by ATMIS was approved by Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, commander of the ATMIS Sam Okiding, and the commander of the Gash frontline forces Mohamed Bariis, ahead of the second phase of operations against the militants which will mainly target Jubaland

Already, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had reached out to his colleagues from Kenya, Djibouti, and Ethiopia, while asking them for military assistance ahead of the second phase of operations. The second phase has been dubbed Black Lion Mission.

There is a deliberate effort by members of the East Africa community and those from the Horn of Africa to help Somalia effectively fight terrorism, with countries projecting that economic stability will be achieved once stabilization of the country succeeds.

“Black Lions Mission is a regional plan that will strengthen the efforts of the Federal Government of Somalia and ATMIS as the enemy [ Al Shabaab] is the same,” said Ambassador Souef.

“The security of Somalia today can have a negative impact on Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, so we agreed to strengthen our coordination,” he added.

The army commander reiterated the efforts of the Somalia National Army to master the plan ahead of handing over security responsibilities from ATMIS later on next year. ATMIS has been the face of the war against Al-Shabaab in Somalia for almost two decades.

“At this point, it is time, the main purpose of the lion-black mission is to undermine Al-Shabaab and reach a level that cannot be a threat to government and state,” said the Gashanle Mohamed Bariis.

Firce Commander Lt Gen Sam Okiding noted that the mission force is forever indebted to support the stabilization mission in Somalia, adding that all stakeholders will be involved ahead of the second phase of operations against the militants particularly in Middle Jubba.

“We are ready to help whenever we are needed. We will soon hold another conference to look at the details of the entire plan. We are doing all of this to ensure that our brothers in Somalia take full control of the country’s security,” Sam Okiding.

Ethiopian troops have started arriving in the Horn of Africa nation with their colleagues from Kenya also preparing for the assault. The Black Lion Mission will be critical to Kenya since it will focus on Jubaland, a state acting as a buffer zone for the Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] in Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE