MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – The leaders of Somalia’s Southwest State has announced the beginning of new offensive against al-Shabaab fighters in its three regions.
Somali federal government and its members states have been amassing military forces to wage second phase operations dubbed black lion operations. The frontline countries are also expected to take part in these operations.
Early this year, Somalia, and its neighbours (Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya) agreed to conduct a significant joint military offensive against Al-Shabaab dubbed “Operation Black Lion” to liberate remaining territories under the militants’ control to not only stabilise the Horn of Africa country but also secure the region.
The agreement was reached at a summit hosted by Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and attended by the Heads of State of Kenya, Djibouti, and Ethiopia.
On Saturday, while addressing participants of a meeting for the anti-al-Shabab operations in Baidoa, Southwest state leader, Abdiasis Hassan Laftagareen has made public that his forces will launch the second phase of operations against al-Shabaab, vowing that they will hunt down al-Shabaab fighters and destroy military bases of the group.
The meeting was attended by military commanders, government officials and lawmakers.
“We need to move ahead and liberate territories from the al-Shabaab group, the offensive against the group will start right now. We must eradicate the enemy, just as the people of Hirshabelle and Galmudug are fighting terrorists,” President Laftagareen announced.
Somalia has been plagued by insecurity for years, with al-Shabaab being one of the main threats in the Horn of Africa country.
Since at least 2007, al-Shabaab has waged a deadly campaign against the Somali government and international forces that has claimed thousands of lives.
Discussion about this post