PM Barre Hails Mogadishu Security Gains during Eid Celebrations

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has said improved security in Mogadishu has helped the capital recover from years of bombings and targeted killings, urging citizens to support efforts aimed at preserving stability and advancing state-building.

Speaking during Eid al-Adha celebrations in Mogadishu, Barre said residents were now able to celebrate the holiday peacefully after years of insecurity linked to Al-Shabaab attacks.

“We have moved beyond the difficult periods marked by explosions and assassinations,” the prime minister said, adding that security improvements had contributed to visible economic and governance progress in the country.

He praised Somalia’s armed forces and security agencies for what he described as sacrifices made to restore peace in the capital, saying many young Somalis had lost their lives defending the country.

“Hundreds of Somali youth were martyred for the peace Mogadishu enjoys today,” Barre said, calling on the public to continue supporting security institutions.

The prime minister also urged opposition politicians not to politicise security matters, saying the government remained open to dialogue on issues serving the national interest.

Barre said Somalia was entering a new political phase centred on rebuilding national unity and preparing for universal suffrage elections, a longstanding goal backed by the federal government but disputed by some opposition groups and regional leaders.

The remarks come as the federal government of Somalia intensifies military operations against Al-Shabaab in parts of central and southern regions while pursuing constitutional reforms and electoral changes aimed at replacing the country’s clan-based indirect voting system with one-person, one-vote elections.

Mogadishu has seen a relative improvement in security in recent years despite periodic militant attacks, allowing increased business activity, infrastructure development and international engagement in the capital.