Somalia president goes for religious scholars' help in Al-Shabaab war

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud now seek assistance from religious scholars in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants, with the government now targeting the group in several parts of the country as it tries to regain confidence from the rest of the civilian population.

For the last couple of months, the Somali National Army [SNA] with the assistance of the local residents, US Africa Command and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] have been pursuing Al-Shabaab militants in several parts of the country, mainly in central and southern regions.

At an event in Mogadishu, Hassan Sheikh, who returned as president for the second stint after five years in political coldness, said the war can easily be won should members of the public work closely with religious scholars.

The president noted that the war can be won should religious scholars take responsibility and teach residents that extremist ideologies do not have anything to do with religion. He further noted that Islam does not have anything to do with Al-Shabaab militants.

"I want you to come out, speak up and tell the people that what Al-Shabab is working on has nothing to do with religion, he said during a meeting in Mogadishu," added as the country pushes for dislodging of Al-Shabaab militants.

Hassan Sheikh had vowed to defeat the militants through the use of military and ideologies, with the latter not being used. The perceptions and ideological tactics that he wants to introduce through scholars will mainly target the youth who are vulnerable to fundamental teachings.

The Al-Shabaab militants have been taking advantage of the weak military to raid different parts of Somalia, killing thousands of innocent civilians in the process. But in return, a rejuvenated Somalia military has managed to gain ground in different parts of the country.

Al-Shabaab militants have been fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia, but the resistance from the military and local militia has managed to degrade the team. Al-Shabaab controls huge swathes of rural central and southern Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE