Mogadishu, SONNA)-: The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, declared the second phase of operations against Al-Shabab on Sunday, March 26, 2023. The second phase of operations will focus on eradicating Al-Shabab from the rest of the country.
President Mohamud made the announcement during a visit to the recently liberated district of Aadan Yabaal. He said that the Somali National Army has made significant progress in the fight against Al-Shabab during the first phase of the war and that he is confident the SNA will be successful in the second phase of operations.
Addressing the local authorities and the residents of Aadan Yabaal district, he underscored his administration’s commitment to stabilization and essential public services.
The President’s declaration is a major step forward in the fight against Al-Shabab. The second phase of anti-Al-Shabab offensive operations will be easier than the first phase, as the national army has gained experience. “We have more experience than when we first entered the war in Galmudug and Hirshabelle states. We’ve learned the tactics of Al-Shabab. Our morale tells us that we are capable of defeating them. The government’s current policy is to liberate the country from Al Shabab,” He stated at the opening of the South West reconciliation conference in Baidoa on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.
