President Mohamud lauds Galmudug over defeat of Al-Shabaab

Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud has welcomed the defeat of Al-Shabaab fighters by Galmudug security forces in four day fighting in Mudug region.

Galmudug state leader Abdikarim Guled Monday said his forces had killed 115 Al-Shabaab members and captured other 110 as the fighting concluded.

President Mohamud praised Galmudug forces for the swift response to conclude the fighting against Al-Shabaab fighters who previously engaged week-long fighting with Puntland forces before crossing into Galmudug areas.

“I salute your bravery of Galmudug soldiers who with the help of the public swiftly defeated Al-Shabaab which came in Galmudug areas with aim of create instability in those areas,” said Mohamud.

On Monday, Guled said his forces concluded the fighting with Al-Shabaab fighters who last week crossed into Galmudug areas after they (Al-Shabaab fighters) engaged fighting with Puntland forces in areas of Nugal region along Indian Ocean.

“Four days of fighting with Al-Shabaab fighters concluded. The security forces killed over 115 militias and captured 110 that are in custody,” said Guled.

Guled appealed to the public, the Federal Government and the International Community to fully back Galmudug forces in the fight against terrorist groups in Galmudug to eliminate all threats posed by terrorists in the country.

“The victory we have had over Al-Shabaab for the last four days and the recent victory in Puntland requires our immediate and collective action to intensify the fight against terrorists in order to stop them re-grouping and finding hide-outs that they can plan terrorist attacks,” said Guled.

Mid this month boat loads of Al-Shabaab fighters landed in Gara’ad town alongside Indian Ocean before withdrawing a day after. On their way to Galgala mountains, they were ambushed by Puntland forces prompting week-long fighting that claimed lives of seven Puntland soldiers and over 220 Al-Shabaab fighters.

After the conclusion of the fighting, Puntland paraded about thirty Al-Shabaab fighters who were captured in the battle field.

Most of the captives were underage, some claiming to have been lured by Al-Shabaab leaders for jobs and education in Yemen but ended up fighting alongside them when they were attacked by Puntland forces.

“I was told we were going to be given opportunities to study in Yemen but along the way we were given weapons and forced to fight alongside Al-Shabaab,” said one of the boys captured who claimed to be 12 years old.

The fighters have drifted north after losing ground in southern and central Somalia.

Al Shabaab has been driven out of major strongholds in Somalia by AMISOM and Somali army offensives but the group still controls some rural areas and often launches guerrilla-style assaults and bomb attacks.