Somalia's army warns public against Al-Shabaab deals

The UAE announced it will be ending the training programme on Sunday [Anadolu]

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Locals in central Somalia should work with the government and expose Al-Shabaab militants instead of collaborating with them, the Somali National Army [SNA] has warned, just ahead of the second phase of operations against the group in different parts of the country.

At Gal'ad town in Galgaduud, the army warned that residents should actively work with the military for the country to effectively flush out Al-Shabaab militants, who have started regrouping after the completion of the first phase of operations. The first phase targeted Galmadug and HirShabelle states.

Bashir Omar Abdullahi, the commander of the 18th battalion of the Gorgor unit, warned that locals should avoid making deals with Al-Shabaab, adding that those found in contact with suspected militants will not be spared in the crackdown.

Locals, he said, should stay away from active areas of operations to avoid being casualties, adding that they should also share information with the military to make the operation effective as envisaged in the plan. A number of locals have started planning to join the offensive.

Operation Black Lion in Galmadug and HirShabelle states is meant to comb the area and secure the two states from Al-Shabaab, who have been regrouping lately. The first phase of operations managed to eliminate over 3,000 militants, the Ministry of Information announced.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in central Somalia on Saturday ahead of the launching of military operations. Once the militants are fully neutralized in central Somalia, the focus will now turn to Jubaland and Southwest states for the second phase of operations against the group.

The Somali National Army has been getting support from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] and the US Africa Command throughout the process. Al-Shabaab is trying to create an extreme Islamist state in Somalia through the imposition of unpopular Sharia Law on residents.

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