MOGADISHU, Somalia – President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud broke the silence and admitted for the first time that the country’s armed forces have withdrawn from newly liberated areas in Galmudug state, after the Al-Shabaab attack in the Cawsweyne area.
The President, speaking on X, formerly Twitter Space last night, said that the attack had an impact on the government strategy of the operation against Al-Shabaab in central Somalia.
Mohamud said that the government has taken steps to boost the morale of the SNA troops with visits by top officials, ministers, and MPs so that they can return to the vacated bases.
The President said that the troops would be rewarded with ranks for their bravery in facing Al-Shabaab on the battlefield. SNA chief Ibrahim Muhudin said each soldier was promoted by one rank. He made the announcement during a visit Daru-Nimca, Middle Shabelel region.
“The war is going on, I will not stop. Our spirit is high. We are 100 percent confident that we will defeat Al Shabaab. We tried it and we gained a milestone,” said the president.
The president of Somalia said that there are only a few people who do not want the government to win the war on Al-Shabaab. He said such people are the same as Al-Shabaab.
Cawsweyne [Osweine] was captured by government forces last month, followed by Elbur, the historic Al-Shabaab stronghold in the Galgadud region, which it ruled for over 16 years.
