Southwest president orders his forces to reopen Al-Shabaab controlled roads for aid access

South West President Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden on Monday asked the forces to launched operation to reopen roads manned by Al-Shabaab fighters for humanitarian aid access.

Al-Shabaab militants had some years ago banned western NGos and their partners from  Southern Somalia.

The President said his administration would now give a priority on how to dislodge Al-Shabaab from key supply routes in a bid to facilitate delivery of humanitarian aid to drought-affected communities in the region.

“Opening supply routes is very crucial to alleviate the humanitarian crisis and save the lives of the drought-affected people,” he said.

He said Al-Shabaab was the biggest problem facing drought relief campaign in the region, accusing the militant group of doing all it can to prevent aid from reaching its intended people.

President Aden said the extremist group is against that any aid reaches the drought victims, thus leading to mass displacement of people from territories held by the group.

Al-Shabaab militant group blocked off major roads entering towns in Bakool and Baay regions since the group lost the control of the major towns to the allied forces five months ago.