Gov’t Ministers, Defence Officials Meet Lower Shabelle Farmers Over Al-Shabaab Threats, Security Operations

GOOBJOOG NEWS|LOWER SHABELLE: Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Mohamed Maareeye, State Minister for Defence Omar Ali Abdi, and Land Forces Commander Brigadier General Sahal Abdullahi Omar have met farmers from the Lower Shabelle region to discuss security concerns affecting agricultural communities.

During the meeting, the farmers raised complaints about difficulties they said were being caused by Al-Shabaab in their communities. They also reported damage allegedly resulting from some of the recent security operations conducted in the region.

The officials listened to the farmers’ concerns and pledged that the complaints would be documented and referred to the relevant authorities for investigation.

They also stressed the importance of protecting civilians, their property and agricultural production during security operations in Lower Shabelle.

The region is one of Somalia’s key agricultural areas but has also remained a major theatre of military operations against Al-Shabaab.