Somali President reveals the date for eliminating the terrorist group “Al-Shabaab”
Terrorists Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has stated that his country has a year to expel the Al-Shabaab militants associated with the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda from its territories, as the final deadline approaches for the withdrawal of African Union peacekeeping forces in December 2024.
The terrorist organization Al-Shabaab has been rebelling against the Somali government since 2006 in an attempt to establish its own rule based on its interpretation of Islamic Sharia principles.
The Somali president had previously stated in August that he aims to eliminate the movement by early next year.
In a speech at the Royal United Services Institute in London, Sheikh Mohamud said, “The final deadline is December 2024 when all African Union peacekeeping forces must leave the country.”
He added that the current focus is on eradicating the remnants of the Al-Shabaab movement.
He pointed out that “this task has become more challenging due to the heavy floods that have recently swept through Somalia, making it difficult for militants to deploy landmines.”
The final phase of the military campaign against the militants aims to “penetrate southern Somalia, the traditional stronghold of the terrorist movement.”
The president described the progress as “encouraging,” adding that “there are currently no indications that the leaders of Al-Shabaab are seeking dialogue with the government.”
He said, “If that changes (the movement’s stance and they enter into dialogue), we will change (our stance)… I believe this will end in dialogue instead of killing, mutilation, and pursuit.”
He appealed to the international community to support Somalia in its military efforts, institution-building, and the provision of basic services such as health, education, and infrastructure reconstruction.
