Let us unite to fight our common enemy, President Mohamoud

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has called for cooperation between Somalis and authorities in order to defeat terrorism and other acts of crime which have cost several lives in the past few weeks.

Speaking during a meeting with security chiefs and leaders from Banaadir region whose capital is Mogadishu Saturday, President Mohamud said the country was facing a common enemy noting that it was possible to defeat it if there was enhanced cooperation between the public, security organs and the authorities.

“We are in a fight with an enemy at global level which is dangerous for our security and existence. The enemy is Al-Shabaab whose aim is to kill our people. The evidence is how they are targeting our Somali people ruthlessly, we can defeat them if we are united against them,” President Mohamoud said.

Security lapse

The meeting comes amidst increased security lapses in the city which have seen the militant group Al-Shabaab carry out three major attacks in the last three months.

At least 20 people were killed in the SYL Hotel attack on February 26. Another 20 lives were lost and 40 were injured at the Liddo Beach restaurant bomb attack in January 21. Both incidents were in Mogadishu. In January, a bomb attack at the Village restaurant in Mogadishu claimed three lives and injured two others.

Grilled

Parliament Saturday grilled intelligence chief General Abdirahman Tuuryare days after the Prime Minister Omar Sharmake and security minister Abidirizak Mohamed appeared before the House.

Addressing the security meeting Saturday President Mohamud also noted the decision to delegate security of Mogadishu to the local authority was aimed at ensuring effective security management and was in accordance with the law.

“Decisions reached at Council include to the need to reduce armed vehicles in circulation. We must be vigilant to neutralize threats from the enemy. I urge the public to cooperate with the forces and report whenever they see something suspicious, or anything that could harm national security,” the president noted.