Somali Army Land Forces Chief Visits Front Lines to Boost Troops After Losing Ground  

MOGADISHU, Somalia - General Sahal Abdullahi Omar, the commander of Somalia’s ground forces, has visited the Somali National Army (SNA) troops on various frontlines, reportedly as part of a motivational trip aimed at sharing the gains made in the Al-Shabaab war with the soldiers.

For the better part of Friday, Gen Sahal Abdullahi Omar was in Middle Shabelle, the epicentre of the fight against Al-shabaab, a group trying to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia.

Some of the areas he toured include Masaajid Ali Gadud, where Somali National Army (SNA) and allied local fighters have been carrying out operations to reclaim territory from the group. The local Macawislay fighters have been instrumental in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

The military has announced strategic gains in various frontlines across the country, toppling the militants who had also significantly advanced into important villages within the battlefield, particularly in March, April, and May this year.

During his trip, he praised the soldiers for their sacrifice in the line of duty, adding that the militants have been subdued in some areas. General Omar said he is optimistic that the country will liberate itself from the militants who still control large swathes of rural central and southern regions.

“These victories show we are capable of defeating the enemy,” he said. “We must continue fighting until all Somali territories are liberated.”

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is accused of abandoning the troops fighting Al-Shabaab, with the opposition blaming him for the gains made by Al-Shabaab. According to them, the president is preoccupied with re-election politics instead of improving the security situation.

But on his part, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud believes the country is on the right course, even as African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) troops are being downsized ahead of a complete exit from the country.

GAROWE ONLINE