President Mohamud Calls on Cadaado Residents to Support Fight Against Al-Shabaab

GOOBJOOG NEWS | CADAADO: Federal government of Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has called on residents of Cadaado to support Somali forces in the fight against Al-Shabaab, urging communities to stand behind efforts to eliminate the militant group from the country.

President Mohamud made the appeal on Sunday after travelling by road from Galmudug’s capital, Dhuusamareeb, to Cadaado, accompanied by Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Karie Qoorqoor.

Hundreds of residents welcomed the president in the centre of Cadaado, where he praised the community for maintaining unity, protecting peace and supporting state institutions.

He urged residents to take part in what he described as the final phase of the campaign against Al-Shabaab, and to support Somali forces involved in efforts to secure communities and expand government control.

The appeal came during a wider presidential visit to Galmudug, where security has been a central theme. President Mohamud also attended the completion of military training for Somali National Army units at Xananbuure and met communities in several locations across the region.

Galmudug has been a major focus of Somalia’s military campaign against Al-Shabaab, particularly since the federal government launched its renewed offensive with support from local communities. The campaign initially made significant territorial gains in central Somalia, although Al-Shabaab has retained the ability to conduct attacks and challenge government forces.

President Mohamud’s call in Cadaado places local support at the centre of the government’s security strategy, as Somali forces seek to consolidate areas recovered from Al-Shabaab and strengthen state authority.

The president has repeatedly made the fight against Al-Shabaab a central priority of his administration, declaring an “all-out war” against the group after returning to office in 2022.

For communities in central Somalia, the government’s challenge is not only to push militants out of territory but also to maintain security and restore administration and basic services once areas are recovered.

The president’s visit to Cadaado therefore combines a security message with an appeal for stronger cooperation between communities, Galmudug authorities and the federal government in the campaign against Al-Shabaab.