Defence minister lauds SNA, calls for more support

Defence minister Abdikadir Sheikh Ali Diini has said the Somali National Army has made significant gains in establishing security and stability in the country but still needs more support.

Speaking at the High Level Partnership Forum (HLPF) held in Mogadishu on Wednesday, the minister said that the government had put more efforts to rebuild the army but still needs a lot.

“Somali government is carrying initiatives to integrate local forces to form strong a national cohesive force which can take full control of the whole nation,” he said.

He pointed out that SNA soldiers had recovered many towns from Al-Shabab fighters and said that the soldiers are about weed out Al-Shabab fighters.

Somali government forces backed African union troops have been carrying out operations to recover Area Al-Shabab fighters in Bakol, Hiraan and Gedo regions.

Al-Shabab was exerted pressure from different sides including infantry operations conducted by SNA and airstrikes carried Kenya warplanes forcing the group to vacate several towns such as such as Taraka, Jungal, Duraned, Eel-elaan, Habakhaluul, Meyon, Magalay, Duraned. The allied forces have also captured Bardhere in the Gedo region. Al-Shabab has also effectively lost control  of Buur-dhuhunle, Kulun-jareer, Moragabey, Legaly and Gelewoyni in Bakool region.

Al-Shabab has carried out several deadly attacks on Government institutions, army camps and hotels. Last Sunday an Al-Shabab suicide bomber driving a lorry packed with explosives hit the gate of Jazeera Palace hotel near the city’s airport killing more ten people and injuring over 25 others.