Somalia’s Ministry of Defense on Tuesday urged residents in several villages in Galhareri and Elbur, two districts under al Shabaab control in the Galgadud region, to leave “immediately” as Somali forces, backed by international partners, started new airstrikes and military operations targeting the group in Galmudug regional state.
“I want to tell you to stay away from the land between Hindere and Garab la’. These are the areas where the threat is most pronounced. We are also asking you to avoid El Qohle, Wabho, El Harardere, Dabagalo, and Jacar,” stated the spokesman for the country’s Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General Abdullahi Ali Anod.
The spokesman emphasized that the Somali government is committed to ensuring the safety of the people and animals in those areas. The goal is to minimize any impact caused by the upcoming large-scale operation in the days ahead.
He added that the government will not accept responsibility if people fail to heed the warning and remain within the target area. This marks the second such warning issued by the government to the residents in these villages.
Meanwhile, in Dhusamareb, the capital of the Galmudug administration, final preparations are currently underway for a massive operation aimed at liberating areas under al Shabaab control in Galmudug. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been leading a series of meetings with elders and army commanders in Dhusamareb since last week.
In recent months, the army and local clan militias have retaken chunks of territory in an operation backed by US air raids and an African Union (AU) force known as ATMIS whose mandate ended in June.
