Senior elite force officer injured in Al-Shabaab attack succumbs to wounds

FILE: Abdiaziz Saamir Adde

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali National Army [SNA] lost a senior elite force officer as the country embarks on the second phase of operations against Al-Shabaab following the first operation which was termed successful by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Abdiaziz Mohamed Mohamed, a deputy commander of the Danab operations, succumbed to his injuries at hospital days after being seriously wounded by Al-Shabaab in Mogadishu days ago, according to senior military officials.

The late officer was trained in different countries, including Uganda and US, and reached the rank of first lieutenant in the army. He was at the forefront of the special operation against militants who often target senior government officials and military teams in their attacks.

Mohamud was a senior Danab member and his death could deal a major blow to the brigade. Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur paid tribute for his sacrifice, terming him a martyr who was committed to seeing a liberated Somalia given his coordination skills on operations.

The SNA is preparing to take over security responsibilities from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] but recently, there were claims that the government was ready for another extension for ATMIS whose tour of duty is supposed to end by December 2024.

The government of Somalia is optimistic that the fight against Al-Shabaab will be won due to the defeat of the group in past operations. Somalia has been fighting Al-Shabaab for the last 16 years.

GAROWE ONLINE