MOGADISHU, Somalia – Hassan Sheikh Mohamud the president of Somalia is en route to Mahaas City in the Hiran region today as he ramps up mobilization for war on Al-Shabaab.
An advance team, including lawmakers, ministers, and advisors recently arrived in the town which lies in the East of the Hiraan Region in Central Somalia, according to the sources.
Mohamud announced earlier that his trip to the Hiraan region is to speed up the operations against Al-Shabaab to complete the 1st phase which officially kicked off In August 2022.
Preparations are underway to welcome the President in the town and security has been extremely tightened ahead of his arrival. He is expected to visit other areas of the region.
Since the launch of the all-out war in August last year, The Somali government has gained ground in its war with the Islamist insurgency Al-Shabaab, mainly in central provinces.
Last week, the government forces retreated from six areas, including Elbur which were recently recaptured, a move that the justice minister Hassan Moalim termed a tactic of war.
Emboldened by clan backing and US military air support, the government of Somalia now aims to send additional soldiers into Al-Shabaab’s southern and central main strongholds.
