Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with traditional elders, politicians, and the local community in Dhusamareb, the administrative capital of Galmudug State, yesterday.
The discussions during the meeting revolved around the role of traditional elders in leading the anti-al-Shabab operation to liberate the areas still under al-Shabab control in Galmudug State. President Mohamud urged them to counter the group’s plans and to prevent divisions among the local population.
The President has been in Dhusamareb for over a week to expedite the major second phase of military operations against al-Shabab in Galmudug and Hirshabelle States.
In the past four days, the Somali National Army, supported by international partners, killed over 40 al-Shabab militants through various distinct military operations in the Bay and Lower Shabelle regions.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the elimination of 23 terrorists, which includes two commanders. This operation, which took place on Saturday, targeted a checkpoint, a garage for gathering explosives and an administrative office used by leaders in Bula-Fuley, in the Bay region on Saturday.
In a subsequent military operation on Sunday, 18 al-Shabab militants were eliminated during an engagement in the villages of Baladul-Amin and Baladul-Karim in the Lower Shabelle region.
