Madobe: We are coming together to defeat Al-Shabaab in Somalia

KISMAYO, Somalia – Jubaland president Ahmed Madobe reckons that for Al-Shabaab to be defeated, all Somalis should come together and fight the group, noting that his administration has already mobilized several units which are set to join the federal government in a major crackdown against the group.
Al-Shabaab, he said, is a small unit of people without military experience who are using cowardly tactics to kill innocent civilians and security forces across Somalia and elsewhere without justification. The group, he added, can be defeated should all Somalis unite for the same course.

In the company of Chief of Defense Forces General Odowaa Yusuf Rageh and Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, Madobe said the state is dispatching dozens of regional troops to areas affected with Al-Shabaab invasion particularly Hiiraan and Galgaduud regions in Somalia.

“Our region is the backbone of Al-Shabaab. This is their administration and financial capital. I hope to relieve some pressure from our brothers fighting in Hiiraan. We will come together, and here is where we will finally end Al Shabaab.”

“Among those recruited and trained to fight are young men whose families are virtual hostages of Al Shabaab. Their families are constantly pressured by them [Al Shabaab] to return to Al Shabaab territory, but they’ve refused to live alongside Al Shabaab.”

His good gesture comes moments after Al-Shabaab faced several defeats in central and southern Somalia, following a military operation activated by the Somali National Army. The offensive which is entering the fifth month has seen local militia join the battle, in what has been termed as most successful crackdown in as many years.

The government believes the series of retaliatory attacks by Al-Shabaab is informed by their defeats in various parts of the country where they have close over 500 fighters in few months. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud have been encouraging local militia to join the war.

Source: garoweonline