Alshabaab stepped up their activities in the state says HirShabelle leader
HirShabelle State president Mohamed Abdi Waare has expressed his concern over increased operations by Alshabab fighters in his state.
He pointed out that the biggest contribution to this latest development as a result of the continuous aerial attacks by US drones in some locations in Lower Shabelle region which made them to flee to Hiran province and central Somalia.
“HirShabelle state is experiencing a new burden from Alshabab due to the ongoing airstrikes and ground operations against them on our southern part of our state and they fled to our side” said president Waare
Hiran region also became a transit route for the fleeing Alshabab fighters according to president Waare on their way to Puntland in the north while some made a base in the state adding that the political dispute in Somalia is also a good recipe for their presence.
“According to the information we have, they are heading northern side starting with Puntland while some have placed a burden on our state. It is also resulted by the political instability in the country which misled us from our official stand to wage war on the enemy” president Waare added.
He appealed to the federal government to strengthen their operations against Alshabab fighters.
Federal president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has announced an all out war against Alshabab following the devastating 14th October truck bomb attack in Zoope junction, Mogadishu that claimed over 500 lives and injured many more.
So far US drone attacks are said to be over a dozen times in this year since US president Trump came to office in November 2016 more than what his predecessor carried out in his first term in office.
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