A delegation led by Somali Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre arrived at Aden Yabal, a recently liberated town in the Middle Shabelle region.
The Prime Minister’s delegation, which includes members of his cabinet and federal MPs, was welcomed by the president of Hirshabelle Ali Guudlaawe, his deputy, military officials and leaders of the local clan militia forces known as Ma’awisley.
Prime Minister Hamsa and his delegation are scheduled to meet with Hirshabelle leaders, government forces leaders, and residents to discuss rebuilding the town’s infrastructure and ensuring its security.
The delegation also expected to visit the Moqokori district in the Hiiraan region to inspect the ongoing offensive against al Shabab and meet with residents.
Last week, Somali forces and allied militias pushed al-Shabaab fighters out of a strategic town in central Somalia that the Islamist group has controlled for six years.
The government, backed by AU troops and clan militias, said it has killed around 700 members of al Shabaab and recaptured scores of settlements as part of a months-long campaign to loosen the al Qaeda-linked group’s control over large swathes of the country.
The Somali government discovered mass graves in Adan Yabal with scores of Al Shabaab fighters. The Somali government believes that Al Shabaab massacred the woundedd fighters so government forces would not capture them.