Mogadishu (Halbeeg News) – Kenyan government has reassured that it would support Somalia in the war against al-Shabaab amid Mogadishu is hosting a security meeting between the frontline countries.
The frontline including Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya contributed thousands of military soldiers to back Somali troops to defeat al-Shabaab and stabilise the country.
According to a statement by the Somali military, Somali National Army’s Chief Gen. Odawa Yusuf and his Kenyan counterpart Gen. Robert Kariuki held talks in Mogadishu.
The two commanders discussed strengthening the military cooperation between the two nations.
Kariuki expressed his country’s readiness to play a vital role in the war against al-Shabaab fighters.
Kenya had previously witnessed deadly al-Shabaab attacks which claimed hundreds of lives of Kenyan citizens.
The group targeted border towns including Mandera, Wajir and Garissa as well as Nairobi and areas in the country’s coast region.
Al-Shabaab ambushed passenger vehicles plying across northeastern to Nairobi and other towns as military convoys.
Kenyan military forces working under African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) were attacked in El-Adde and Kulbiyow. Both ATMIS and Kenya did not officially disclose the death toll of the attacks but locals and the militants say the high figure casualties on the forces.
During yesterday’s meeting, SNA boss, Gen. Odawaa confirmed that Somalia will work with Kenya to secure border areas between the countries, saying his country is ready to share military intelligence with Kenya.
The Somali government has been fighting al-Shabaab fighters for more than a decade. With the help of continental forces contributed by Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia and Djibouti, the government forces succeeded to dislodge al-Shabaab fighters from many towns and villages including the capital.
Last July, the government launched operations against al-Shabaab fighters in south-central Somalia. The government forces backed by clan militias liberated towns in Hiiraan, Galgadud, Mudug and Middle Shabelle regions.
The government also claimed to have killed hundreds of fighters in the months-long operations.
Somalia also launched economic and ideological warfare against al-Shabaab which used to get millions of dollars from taxing businesses in the country.
Last month, Somali Prime Minister Hamze Abdi Barre said his government closed over 250 bank and mobile money accounts linked to al-Shabaab.
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