War on Al-Shabaab, Hiiraan row top agenda as President Mohamud lands in Jowhar

GOOBJOOG NEWS|JOWHAR: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Jowhar, the capital of HirShabelle state Tuesday morning as part of a tour of central Somalia where he is expected to mobilise security forces and clan militia for the resumption of offensives against Al-Shabaab.

HirShabelle leader Ali Gudlawe and other regional and national officials received the President. Sources said the President will seek to resolve the ongoing tensions in the Hiiraan region, which arose following the sacking of the immediate former Hiiraan governor Ali Jeyte.

Jeyte was kicked out by Gudlawe in May sparking protests and pronouncements of a new regional state by the Jeyte faction. Of note also is that Jeyte had been the face of the first p war against Al-Shabaab which resulted in the capture of several territories and mass casualties to the group.

President Mohamud will also be heading to Dhusamareb, the capital of Galmudug state where he is expected to make a major announcement about the second phase of the operation according to sources close to Villa Somalia.

The second phase which covers the southern states of South West and Jubaland will also involve about 20,000 troops from Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia following a January agreement in Mogadishu under the Front Line States pact.

SNA has deployed additional troops in Galgadud and Hiiraan regions as it winds down the first part of the operation.