Somalia’s government forces have taken over an Al Shabaab, a Salafi-jihadist military and political organization based in Somalia, stronghold on the Indian Ocean coast in one of their most significant accomplishments since launching missiles against the Islamist groups last year, the defense minister said on Monday.
Defence Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, in a broadcast on a state-owned television, said that the forces captured the port town of Harardhere as well as the nearby town of Galcad in central Somalia’s Galmudug region.
Until 2011, Harardhere was a prime base for pirates taking over merchant ships. It was later taken over by Al Shabaab, which first acted against the government in 2007 before giving its full support to Al-Qaeda.
Nur said, “Harardhere and Galcad districts have been taken from the hands of the Al Shabaab terrorists. This means Al Shabaab is overpowered and gone.” She continued, “The remaining towns will also be liberated soon.”
Mowlid Mahad, a senior Puntland forces officer, said to the British agency Reuters that the government forces on Monday joined troops and regional forces from Galmudug and forces from the neighboring region of Puntland to annex Eldheere, another town in Galmudug.
The long-term uprising by al Shabaab has added to the severe food crisis in Somalia. More than 200,000 Somalis are victims of catastrophic food shortages and many died of hunger, the number is set to rise over 700,000 by next year, as per the latest data form the UN agencies.
The government and allied troops coerced the militants from areas in Central Somalia since launching a major offensive last August. This led some officials to claim Al Shabaab’s end. However, experts have warned that groups have been forced out of major towns before to regroup and take over areas where the militia does not have a stronghold.
Omar Mahmood, International Crisis Groups senior analyst for East Africa said, “The make or break is not in the offensive phase but in everything that comes after that. Al Shabaab is under pressure but they play a long game.”
The government should imitate its cooperation with clan-based troops across the country, Hassan Mohammed, a former military officer, said.
He told the British agency Reuters, “Al Shabaab would be extinct if the government and clans were launching attacks in the entire country at the same time.”
