Mogadishu, Somalia – President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of the Federal Government of Somalia addressed the nation on Friday after the weekly prayer, reaffirming his commitment to finalize the constitution and liberate the country from the Khawarij militants.
The president said that the constitution, which has been under review since 2012, must reflect the aspirations of the Somali people and be adaptable to changing circumstances. He added that the constitution would be delivered to various social organizations for consultation and feedback, and that the government would facilitate its growth and development.
He also urged the Somali people to be united and resilient in the face of the ongoing war against the Khawarij, a term he used to refer to the al-Shabaab group and other extremists who have been waging a violent insurgency in the country for over a decade. He said that the whole world was watching Somalia’s progress and that the government forces, with the support of the African Union and other international partners, would continue to reclaim new areas from the Khawarij until the entire country and its people were free and secure.
He further called on the Khawarij fighters to renounce violence and seek forgiveness from the Somalis, and urged the foreign fighters among them to return to their countries of origin. He said that the Khawarij had no place in Somalia and that they would face the full wrath of the law and the people.
The president made these remarks at the Martyrs Mosque in Villa Somalia, the presidential palace in Mogadishu, where he joined hundreds of worshippers for the Friday prayer.
