Somalia: Curfew imposed in Harardhere amid Al-Shabaab threats

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Security forces drawn from the Galmadug regional troops and the federal government of Somalia have imposed a curfew in on Haradhere District as a strategy to counter Al-Shabaab, weeks after its capture.

Meetings held in the region concluded that a dusk-to-dawn curfew was to be implemented to prevent activities by the militants. Military officers who are off duty, the report shows, will remain in barracks to avoid confusion as the country scales up operations in the region.

Al-Shabaab, the government said, ought to register police stations as one of the measures to handle insecurity within the country.

The coastal city of Haradhere is one of the latest districts liberated from Al-Shabaab.

The government has been penalizing people who have direct associations with Al-Shabaab and last month, three clan elders were slapped with five-year prison terms after it was established that they visited Al-Shabaab strongholds in Haradhere District.

Recently, the government forces with the help of the US Africa Command, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] troops, and local militia managed to capture Haradhere from the militants, who also lost Gal'ad town. The capture was termed the most "significant" gain this year by the forces.

Across the country, government troops have intensified attacks against the Al-Shabaab, with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud promising to ensure the country is fully liberated from the militants. According to him, there were chances that Al-Shabaab militants will be completely quashed in Galmadug and HirShabelle.

The US Africa Command which resumed full operations in Somalia last year has been helping with aerial surveillance with the latest airstrike coming last week which left five Al-Shabaab militants dead. The government of Somalia has appealed to members of the international community to assist it to contain the militants.

GAROWE ONLINE