Somalia President fires warning to security chiefs amid Al-Shabaab attacks

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has raised concerns over the recent wave of terror attacks within Somalia, following a series of mortar attacks waged by Al-Shabaab within the vicinity of the heavily fortified Halane base camp in Mogadishu.

Mogadishu is one of the most effectively protected cities in the country but the attempts at the Halane base camp and the vicinity of the presidential palace seem to have angered the president.

The attacks were engineered by the Al-Shabaab, forcing some of the world's major airlines including Turkish Airlines to suspend flights to Somalia. At least six mortars had landed in the Halane base camp where various diplomatic missions are housed.

And Mohamud, whose regime had been questioned over commitment to confront security challenges, reprimanded security teams for what he termed as failure to man checkpoints which the militants explore while launching attacks.

He threatened arrests, dismissals, and a sweeping probe if another attack occurs. The failure to thwart attacks within the heavily fortified installations raises questions about the ability of the Somali National Army to handle security challenges.

Amid the crisis, Mohamud ordered Mogadishu’s mayor to return immediately as high-stakes talks with regional leaders loom, aimed at resolving protracted political disputes that have further destabilized the fragile nation.

The al-Shabaab militants have been fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia but the coordination from the foreign military and the local forces has proved to be top-notch. But Hassan Sheikh is under pressure to eliminate the militants who have wreaked havoc in the Horn of Africa nation.

When he took over in 2022, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud pledged total war against al-Shabaab but the operations slowed down in 2024 due to financial and logistical issues. However, in recent weeks, the military has renewed intense operations against the group.

GAROWE ONLINE