DHUSAMAREB, Somalia – The President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has returned to Dhusamareb, which was the command center of the war against Al-Shabaab, after spending a few days in Mahas and Adan Yabal in Middle Shabelle and Hiran regions.
The President met with the officers of the Gorgor Brigade of the SNA at Operation Center in Dhusamareb on Wednesday and received reports on the current offensive in Somalia.
The president is in the central city for the second month, and his latest pictures show that his beard and hair have grown a lot due to the hard work and tireless efforts in the war.
The president underlined that the struggle for re-liberation of the country will cost lives and needs a sacrifice. He urged the officers leading the operation to burn the candle at both ends.
“You are in a war according to the principles of Islamic law and you will receive a reward from Allah. You are sacrificing your lives for this country to achieve the honor and dignity that other nations have,” Hassan Sheikh told the Gorgor commanders during the talks.
In the last few weeks, the Somali army has achieved success in the war, and they have removed Al-Shabaab from a large swathe of territory after a change in the current war strategy.
In August 2022, Mohamud launched a “total war” against al-Shabaab. In the first phase, Somali forces concentrated on the central regions of Hirshabelle and Galmudug, supporting local clans that were rebelling against al-Shabaab.
The terrorist group had seen public support deteriorate in those areas after it raised taxes on residents to make up for losses incurred from an economic downturn and natural disasters, disregarding the effects of the policy on people’s livelihoods.
The first stage was the most effective offensive since 2016, expelling al-Shabaab from areas it had controlled for over a decade, and in March 2023 the government launched phase two to attack al-Shabaab in the south.
However, concerns remain about Somalia’s ability to hold the areas it has cleared and take more territory given the planned drawdown of foreign troops and the fact that southern clans have not shown the same propensity to turn on al-Shabaab.
