Alternative Approaches to Pacifying Mogadishu

For the last twenty years, Somalis have hoped, and so we expressed in these pages of WardheerNews, that each prospective year would be decidedly different.  Although peace and development has sustainably improved with each passing year in the Horn of Africa region, things have gotten so sour for the Somali people that the otherwise hope-instilling "Happy New Year" cliché became rather an empty phrase.

Former hawiye  warlords and members of the now defunct CIA-funded Alliance for Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism

With the help of well-wishing, but impatiently hasty world community, only one model - a top down approach - to re-establish the Somali state has been repeatedly tried.  However, that model keeps failing.  To say the least, enormous political capital and human life have been spent on faulty solutions to Somalia's intractable problems, all of which have been centred on the question of Mogadishu. 

It was not that long ago when ruthless warlords, aided and abetted by the Bush administration, promised to bring peace to Mogadishu; but they caused more devastation to the already devastated city.  The Abdullahi Yusuf-Geeddi and, later on Abdullahi Yusuf –Nur Cadde Transitional Federal Government (TFG1), did not either grow beyond the sandy beaches of this troubled City.  The chaotic but short and tranquil period of the Islamic Courts Union ended up eroding all civil liberties to give way to several fundamentalist splinter groups that are now threatening what is left of the Somali fabric. And the current Sheriff - Sharmarke feeble administration is sadly confined to the besieged presidential palace of Villa Somalia (The New Yorker, December, 2009). 

After all is said and done, the only two things that had  consistently flourished in Southern Somalia (Mogadishu area) in the last 20 years are a culture of violence and an uneducated and corrupt leadership who seek phantom power at the expense of their devastated community.

Meanwhile, the two regional governments of Puntland in the northeast and Somaliland in the northwest have been registering gainful cultures of peace and functioning administrations, notwithstanding challenges in capacity building.  It is this contrast between the culture of violence in Mogadishu versus the evolving peaceful civic cultural life in Puntland and Somaliland that forces us to question the model so far utilized. 

We loudly wonder how Mogadishu would bring peace to any other region in Somalia when it is not at peace with itself!   Would it be asking too much to suggest that Puntland and Somaliland are rather in a better position to bring peace to Mogadihu?

Somalia's worsening political violence, including the Al Qaida inspired suicidal killings, are confined to Mogadishu and its environs. On the contrary, regional governments in Puntland and Somaliland have steadfastly moved into a sustained civic culture, thanks to an earlier wise investment in bottom up approaches to peace-building and comprehensive reconciliation, where traditional infrastructures such as elders, local intellectuals and moderate religious leaders are effectively employed.

With similar internal debate raging among the Somali community, WardheerNews spoke to Said Samatar, an expert on Somalia, whose forthcoming book is addressing this very debate.  Mr. Samatar is of the opinion that in order to foster comprehensive peace in Somalia, it is imperative that Mogadishu be treated as nothing more than a mere region in the tribal web of Somalia, thus forcing Mogadishu to first seek solutions for its own problems from within. 

After all, that is what other regions, particularly Puntland and Somaliland, first did to secure their own peace and governance.  They successfully utilized their own devises to foster local peace before moving into helping others.  With the hope that Mogadishu would change course and follow suit, we urge belligerent groups in Southern Somalia to tackle their problems on regional basis, thereby trying to first secure the peace and order for Mogadishu from bottom up. 

To attain a peaceful southern Somalia, the following steps must be taken:

·	That International community desist from further attempts to establish a Mogadishu-centred centralized national government for all Somalia's regions.  This model - a top down approach - has repeatedly failed despite massive political investment by the United Nations Organization and the African Union.
·	Like Puntland and Somaliland, Mogadishu and the rest of Southern Somalia commence a grass roots based peace-building through their traditional elders and moderate religious leaders.
·	All non-Southern political operatives in the Mogadishu-based Unity Transitional Federal Government of Sheikh Sheriff Ahmed vacate their positions and begin in an orderly manner to return to their home regions or any other peaceful region of their choice in the country.
·	Both Puntland and Somaliland administrations should begin to give moral and material support to the afore-mentioned grass roots based peace and reconciliation efforts between groups/clans in Mogadishu.
·	After proven and tested peace culture is established in Mogadishu and full pacification is achieved among the competing interests in Southern Somalia, the administrations of Puntland and Somaliland shall open up talks with a united Mogadishu-based administration on ways to establish a united federal structure for all Somalia.  Somalia’s frontline states must in the interim respect Somalia’s territorial integrity and assist these entities in developing integrated economies and capacities to ward-off threats emanating from Al-Shabab terrorist group.

We believe this approach is consistent with the original comprehensive reconciliation and peace building enunciated by the United Nation in its so-called "building blocks," where Somalia was divided into five peace building blocks, whose final product was to be culminated in an all inclusive federal structure.  By employing this original vision, the world would (1) extend due appreciation to the positive deeds so far done in Puntland and Somaliland; (2) give a tangible role to the true stakeholders in the question of Mogadishu without undue interference by other politicians who do not belong to this region and its intricate conflict; and (3) begin to treat Mogadishu as a region equal to other comparable regions by requiring of it to first solve its own conflict with its own means.

After twenty years of employing futile and faulty models with grandiose goals, there is a lot to gain by going back to the basics, articulate a vision that endorses that wise motto of "small is beautiful," and take baby steps to get to the big goal of pacifying Mogadishu.  In the interest of Somalia, a grass roots based approach to pacifying violent Mogadishu is one alternative that deserves due consideration.  

Somalia Mogadishu War Photos: Somali War Destruction (images) of the aftermath of clash between Terrorist Al-Shabaab Fighting Against African Union With Somalian TFG Somali Government------ - Terrorist / Al- Shabaab/ICU Fighting Against Ethiopian force--- Terrorist Aidid against Ali Mahdi---- civil war , and Conflict Among the Hawiye Warlords(“most destroyed city on earth”)(Photos From The Front Lines, Operation Al-shabaab terrorist Clean Up Daynile District is a district in the southeastern Banaadir region of Somalia )Somali police arrests Al shabaab suspects in Mogadishu

  Hamar Bila neighborhood in Mogadishu.Hamar Bila neighborhood in Mogadishu.

update on Searching House to House,Pictures of Somalia Al-Shabaab Terror Group abandoned its Bases in Mogadishu

A police officer of Somali transitional federal government said they have arrested Al shabaab related suspects after search operations were conducted in parts of the capital Mogadishu.Abdi Mohamed Abdulle, a police officer at Wardhigley district police station told terror free somalia  that they have searched all neighborhoods Hamar Bile area in particular where Al shabaab has recently fled.

Mr. Abdulle said they have arrested at least four people suspected to be the remnants of Al shabaab group.

He added the apprehended people were transferred to the central government so as to put on trial. Since Al shabaab declared its pullout from the seaside Mogadishu, Somali government started to reestablish police stations and resume normal life.

Somalis accustomed to hardships after 21 years of civil war. ...Somalia's 21-year-old civil war is partly to blame for turning the drought in the Horn of Africa into a famine

Stadium Mogadishu Area

MORE PICS Stadium Mogadishu Area ..widespread destruction in the city.

As government forces and African Union peacekeepers spread through Mogadishu to take over positions left empty by the abrupt departure of militant Islamist group al-Shabaab from its bases, thoughts are turning to whether the government will be able to hold the city and what exactly the insurgents now have in mind.

Pockets of fighters have been left behind in districts such as Daynile and Yaaqshid, apparently hiding in private homes, to harass the advancing pro-government forces. However, essentially Mogadishu is now in the full control of the government for the first time since the insurgency began in early 2007, following Ethiopia’s invasion to oust the Islamic Courts Union.While al-Shabaab called the swift and well-organized pull-out a “tactical decision”, there is no doubt that leaving Mogadishu is a major blow to the insurgents and a shot in the arm for a government that has long been seen as incapable of governing. Following Ethiopia's invasion to oust the Islamic Courts Union in late 2006, al-Shabaab launched its insurgency and the capital was quickly transformed into a battleground divided between the two sides. The government was penned in to a small area of control, protected by the AU peacekeepers. However, this year had seen real progress as government and AU forces chipped away at al-Shabaab positions.Despite the spin about a tactical retreat, the exodus from Mogadishu will be seen as a sure sign that the dire predictions about the state of al-Shabaab’s finances, morale and fighting capability were in fact true. Only last week the insurgents promised a massive offensive, saying they had sent up to 2,000 new troops to Mogadishu. They showed early signs of living up to their promise of a Ramadan offensive, carrying out attacks on the AU and government targets before the collapse. Yet the strain of being under pressure in Mogadishu and border regions since the start of the year, internal divisions and lost popularity due to its strict interpretation of Islamic law and refusal to allow western aid agencies into drought-hit regions appears to have sparked the withdrawal.

New tactics

However, al-Shabaab still controls much of the rest of southern Somalia, and if its tactics in the border regions are anything to go by, its fighters will launch regular suicide blasts and counter-attacks, and increase the use of IEDs in Mogadishu – a promise made by spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage on Saturday.

Already there have been several incidents of al-Shabaab fighters appearing from nowhere to attack the pro-government forces cautiously advancing into the vacated areas, and if this process increases, many feel it could spell bad news for the residents of Mogadishu.“Urban guerrilla warfare is more complicated, with vast casualties, as attackers could immediately melt into the residents just by changing uniform,” Ahmed Osman, a military expert in Mogadishu told tf.sf. “If people deny them access and have collaboration with security forces their tactic will fail, but if not, it will be disastrous.”

Government response key

Winning over the local population with strong security and good governance will be key for the Transitional Federal Government to hold onto the capital, a host of officials, former fighters and residents say.“Al-Shabaab has not been routed: they have their weapons and fighters and may have a chance to rule Mogadishu again if the government does not come in with wisdom by maintaining security,” Farhan Nur Ali, a former insurgent commander, told tf.sf.Analysts say the biggest challenge comes from internal sources. Poorly disciplined government forces have been accused of malpractices like robbery, killing and other human rights violations.Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, a political analyst, told tf.sf t the government will find it difficult to hold new territories due to the chaotic nature of its forces.

“Government forces are not well structured and we usually see soldiers dressed casually in the streets, sometimes terrorizing the people by pointing guns at them or even killing them,” he said. “As long as they are in that situation, I doubt they can win people’s support.” “The government does not have a unified national army – it has soldiers who are loyal to former warlords and individual government members and this has to change if it really wants to hold captured territories," he added.Two perfect examples of such accusations came just one day before al-Shabaab pulled out, when militia loyal to two different government figures clashed, killing four civilians in the crossfire, and government troops killed seven internally displaced as they looted humanitarian aid.Many civilians are fearful of what may come next, as despite the many cruelties of al-Shabaab, those who lived in areas under insurgent control were given clear laws to live by and many saw there was far less lawlessness due to the ruthless punishments.“Al-Shabaab are good because the areas they control are much more peaceful, but government soldiers open fire randomly,” said university student Salma Hassan. “Look, what they (the government) did at the camp for displaced people in Mogadishu: they gave people bullets rather than food.” Paddy Ankunda, spokesman for the AU peacekeeping mission (known as AMISOM), acknowledged that the government had much work to win the trust and support of civilians who could help al-Shabaab cause misery in the capital with suicide bombs and ambushes “If the Somali government wants people’s support, it has to provide sustainable social services like education and healthcare and it must also address issue of freedom and restore law and order,” he told tf.sf.

Vows to bring troops in line

Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, speaking in the wake of the incident at the camp, vowed to stamp out such practices. “We have two enemies: al-Shabaab and those within government who kill and rob people,” he said. “Let’s be clear: the punishment for those can be harsh or even execution.”On Monday, three soldiers were sentenced to death by a military court for looting in Bakara Market, but it remains to be seen exactly how possible it will be to bring the collection of militias into line, and there is skepticism in many quarters. Hawiye Clan leader Hassan Sheikh, the chairman of the P and D Party, told  that considering government performances in the past, there is a slim chance the current administration, which has hardly proven itself capable of maintaining a united stance given the constant infighting, will manage the situation in a positive way. “Given past experiences, I think the Somali government cannot use the opportunity to its advantage,” he said. “The government must be a system, not individuals with vested interests. The soldiers are simply acting as killing machines rather than defenders of the people.”

The future of al-Shabaab

The departure of al-Shabaab from Mogadishu will give encouragement to the pro-government forces, and certainly sends a message that the insurgents may not be the force they once were. But it is not yet clear how adversely the group will be affected, and several factors are in the mix.Many see a split between Sheikh Mukhtar Robow (Abu Mansour) and leader Ahmed Godane over the lifting of a ban on western aid agencies during the current famine as key to not just the withdrawal but the future efficiency of an organization that has never been particularly cohesive.Robow’s home areas have been hit fiercely by the drought, and he has been an advocate of getting help in – a stance opposed by other leaders. It was Robow’s stronghold Baidoa that saw one of the first aid deliveries after the famine announcement when UNICEF dropped in tons of emergency supplies.“It is believed that Abu Mansour and Ahmed Godane, the leader of al-Shabaab, disagree on lifting the ban on aid agencies,” Abdikadir Abikar, an elder and a source close to al-Shabaab, told tf.sf.Robow and other clan leaders established an alliance against Godane, and pulled their forces out of Mogadishu, a lawmaker told Somalia Report on condition of anonymity. Godane, with the full support of the contingent of foreign fighters, rejected the move. The fighters that have been left behind in Mogadishu are believed to be mainly from Hawiye sub clans.The full extent of the split, or whether this is just rumor, is yet to be confirmed – although residents of Baidoa told tf.sf  that the city was being flooded with Robow’s men returning from Mogadishu. If Robow and his allies refuse to back Godane, or even refuse to fight at all, then al-Shabaab will be significantly weakened.Also, the insurgent group will be hit in the pocket by abandoning Mogadishu. Bakara Market – at least until traders began leaving it this year – was one of the group’s top earners through taxation and extortion of businesses. This revenue stream from Bakara and other markets has now dried up, leaving al-Shabaab increasingly reliant on port taxes from Kismayo and Marka, and charcoal exports to Gulf states. For an organization that was already struggling to fund its insurgency, this loss of revenue could be a major problem. However, given that an insane amount of ordnance was expended in Mogadishu each day with little gain for the insurgents, there is the counter-argument that they will now be in a better position – and others see this as a key reason for the withdrawal.The insurgents left with few casualties and – any worries over splits aside – can now concentrate their forces and weaponry on defending their territory in south and central Somalia. In particular, pro-government forces in the border regions will likely find much stiffer resistance to their operations, which have seen them gain ground this year.In short, al-Shabaab’s decision to leave Mogadishu does not necessarily signal the beginning of the end to the conflict. If anything, Somalia could enter a period of even greater stalemate. The consequences will only become clear in the weeks to come.

: Photos From The Front Lines.

Operation Al-shabaab  terrorist  Clean Up

Daynile District is a district in the southeastern Banaadir region of Somalia ,Today operations area also included stadium Mogadishu, Misaanka-Dhuhusha village as well as most of Warshadaha Street clean up search house-to-house

AMISOM Reinforces Mogadishu Stadium following Al-Shabaab Withdrawal Al-Shabaab Fighters Hiding Throughout Mogadishu

TFG Arriving at Stadium in MogadishuAt least two Transitional Federal Government (TFG) soldiers died and two others were injured as TFG and African Union peacekeeping (AMISOM) troops fought against al-Shabaab militants in Yaaqshid district of Mogadishu on Sunday, witness said.The conformation erupted after the al-Shabaab militia launched an attack on TFG and AMISOM bases in Baar-Ayaan junction, Yaqshiid police station, Hotel Towfik and a former German technical college, which TFG seized on Sunday.“Al-Shabaab attacked TFG and AMISOM bases using heavy gunfire. They killed two TFG soldiers and took the body of one soldier,” said a Yaaqshid resident on the condition of anonymity. “The insurgents did not desert from the capital. They are in every house in Yaaqshid and Gubta districts”.The General abdulkadir Sheikh ali Dini Commander of Somali National Forces,confirmed to terror free somalia that two of his soldiers were injured during the firefight, but denied any soldiers died. “Some elements from al-Shabaab are still hiding themselves in the houses, but we understand all their tactics,” he said. “They wanted us to think they vacated from the capital, but we know they have left fighters behind to launch attacks.”“We will reach all their bases, but carefully, because they left every village 30 or 40 fighters to fulfill their plan,” he added.Meanwhile TFG forces have today entered Daynile district, stadium Mogadishu, Misaanka-Dhuhusha village as well as most of Warshadaha Street, and trying to slowly spread the capital.

  Abdirahman Warsame

Operation Al-shabaab terrorist Clean Up

exclusive photos

terror free somaila

Somali president to name president Thursday

Somalia’s newly elected president Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed is expected to name a new prime minister today (Thursday) after long consultations with lawmakers and prospective candidates, officials said on Thursday.Associates close to the president say it is expected to announce the prime minister today and there are at least 6 candidates .Maslah Mohamed Siad bare is expected to be named as new somali prime minister , the son of late Honourable Somali President Mohamed Mohamed Siad Barre from jubbaland state http://states-world.com/state.php/1755. Reports from Djibouti also suggest other candidates could be selected as the new prime minister. Nuradin Adan Dirie, a young politician and Omar Abdirashid Ali, Abdirashid Ali Sharmake from Puntland, the semi-autonomous region of Somalia are also candidates for the post. Newly elected President Sheik Sheik Ahmed held various meetings over the weekend with senior security officials and local clan leaders in Mogadishu over security and the need to open reconciliation talks with insurgent groups, which are opposed to the Somali transitional government. The president visited Mogadishu last week and returned to Djibouti to name the prime minister, who will name his cabinet with in two days.Somali capital of Mogadishu fell to the forces of the Hawiye dominated USC in January 1991. Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre fled Mogadishu ...When the civil war erupted, the USC (Hawiye rebel group) went on a quest of onslaught against innocenent Darod civilians in mogadishu . estimated 15,000 unarmed darod civilians were killed,mostly women and children On January 26, 1991, the USC stormed the presidential palace in Mogadishu, ...... were burned to the ground, and tens of thousands of people were massacred, hawiye's are finally paying for what they did in 1991. killing thousands of darood,Only armed cars were on the streets. In areas that the Hawiye already controlled, gunmen were going door to door rounding up Darod men, woman, children.strategic points in the city. The sprawling suburbs of. west and northwest Mogadishu became strongholds of. Hawiye-based resistance ,Mogadishu by now had become a city of torture and murder, ... Fighting eventually broke out between the competing factions within the Hawiye ...Mogadishu has become so dangerous since Islamists were ousted in 2006 that the majority .... The Hawiye backed the warlords who first controlled the city, ...abgaal and habar gidir, 2 subclans of hawiye, have destroyed the city ,As the city descended into complete anarchy, looting became a way of life ,Mogadishu , the capital of Somalia, is a city living a clandestine nightmare ... In that year Hawiye militia burned, raped and killed any person of Darood ...Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, is a city living a clandestine ... every one of these belongs to only one Somali tribe (hawiye)The extremist Islamist group al-Shabab, which controls the port town of Kisamyo , is opposed to the new government and wants to impose harsh Sharia law in Somalia. The U.S. considers al-Shabab a terror organization with links to al-Qaeda.Several mortar rounds landed in the president’s residence in Mogadishu. Sources say that the attack was carried out by the rebel Islamists who controls parts of the capital.It is yet unclear the casualties as the security forces are on alert to prevent any attack from the rebels.This comes as Hisbul Islam (Islamic Party) declared war Islamist Terrorist want to keep fighting against the new government with the new government led by the young cleric Sharif Sheik Ahmed.It is the first attack on the presidential headquarter since the Ethiopian troops pulled out of the capital last month. al-shabaab for the most part operated north Mogadishu, ,Mogadishu is divided into two principal military zones—one controlled by the Abgaal and the other by the Habar Gidir from central Somalia, invaders Control Northern part Mogadishu ,Habar Gidir is sub clan of Hawiya. The Habar Gidir sore losers invaders of Mogadishu, Merca, Afgoye, Brava, and Kismayo ,they have been holding the Somali nation hostage Since 1991 the collapse of the central government ,Dark Day .history of Somalia .January 26, 1991
Somali Taliban, Somali al Qaeda Agree to Get Along

Somali government declares Islamist rebellion defeated (photos of Bakara Market al-shabaab abandoned positions )/Somali famine refugees draw hope from Islamists' Mogadishu withdrawal

MOGADISHU, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed said on Saturday his military had defeated Islamist rebels battling to overthrow his Western-backed government after the al Shabaab group began withdrawing fighters from the capital Mogadishu.Rejecting Ahmed's claim to have quashed al Shabaab's four-year insurgency, the militants' spokesman, Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage, said their retreat was tactical only and they were holding their positions elsewhere in the anarchic country.A 9,000-strong African peacekeeping force and Somali government forces had been steadily wresting control of rubble-strewn Mogadishu from the militants this year. Al Shabaab's pullout followed a string of fierce gun battles late on Friday.Somalia has been without effective central government since the fall of Mohamed Siad Barre 20 years ago.Al Shabaab's retreat from the Somali capital Mogadishu signals an acceptance it cannot militarily defeat a government propped up by foreign muscle and firepower, but raises the spectre of an escalation in al Qaeda-inspired raids.Winning Mogadishu might expand the government's prison capital a little, but it is unlikely to bring any tangible peace to the rest of the Horn of Africa country."It was not the strength of al Shabaab that kept them in Mogadishu for so long, it was the incompetence and weakness of the (Somali government)," said Afyare Elmi, a professor at Qatar University's International Affairs department."I'm worried the (government) may not be able to step into the vacated areas and other clan militia step in. The challenge ... is to expand into these areas and install law and order."President Ahmed urged those who had fled their homes not to rush back to the city neighbourhoods now empty of militants until they had been cleared of explosives. The government said the rebels had retreated as far as 100 km (62 miles) from the capital "The Somali government welcomes the success attained by the Somali government forces backed by AMISOM who defeated the enemy of al Shabaab," Ahmed told a news conference at his residence.Al Shabaab has never previously entirely left Mogadishu, raising questions over whether deep rifts among the al Qaeda-affiliated group's senior commanders had finally led to a split.One faction prefers a more nationalist Somali agenda and wants to impose a harsh Islamic programme on the nation. Another more international wing aims to promote Jihad (holy war) and is bent on overthrowing a government they see as a Western stooge as well as forging closer ties with regional al Qaeda cells.This faction had gained clout with the influx of foreign fighters. Those divisions became sharper as a series of military offensives in Mogadishu exacted a heavy toll on the rebels.One rebel told Reuters the divisions had seen each side retreat from Mogadishu separately over the past few days, culminating in a massive exit by the rebels on Friday night.

THE FIGHT CONTINUES

"We understand there is disagreement among their top leaders," Farhan Ali, who lives in what was an al Shabaab controlled neighbourhood, told Reuters. "They were not displaced by force."Similar sentiments were expressed by Somalis with links to al Shabaab in other parts of the country, including in the southern port city of Kismayu, the nerve centre of al Shabaab's operations in the south of the country."We have abandoned Mogadishu but we remain in other towns," Rage said on the al Shabaab-run Andalus radio station."We aren't leaving you, but we have changed our tactics. Everyone of you will feel the change in every corner and every street in Mogadishu. We will defend you and continue the fighting," Rage said.Witnesses said convoys of al Shabaab "technicals" -- open-top 4x4s mounted with machine guns -- headed south from Mogadishu towards the al Shabaab-controlled town of Baidoa, 250 km southwest of the capital."I saw 50 armed al Shabaab vehicles heading towards Baidoa shortly after morning prayers," Aweys Sharif said by telephone from the town of Afgoye, 30 km south of Mogadishu.Residents in Mogadishu's northern districts watched from the streets as the rebel fighters, many covering their faces with masks, left with the families."Today is a different day. We never dared watch them and their families like this. But still we are afraid to enter their bases. We cannot dance or rejoice yet," said Ali.

photos of Bakara Market  al-shabaab abandoned positions

Somali famine refugees draw hope from Islamists' Mogadishu withdrawal

Update From The Front Lines. Operation Al-shabaab terrorist Clean up.TFG officials visit recently seized areas in Mogadishu.Al-Shabaab abandons its bases in Suqa-holaha, Mogadishu. Military vows to extend its offensives against Al-Shabaab to other parts of the country..-Shabaab militants driven out of Mogadishu, Amisom with TFG claims

tuesday: Update From The Front Lines. Operation Al-shabaab terrorist Clean up.

TFG officials visit recently seized areas in Mogadishu

TFG officials have on Tuesday toured parts of the Somali capital, where TFG and AU troops have seized from Al-Shabaab rebel group following the Monday clashes in north of the city.Led by state Minister for defence Mohamud Maalim Noor, the officials visited most of the areas fled by the rebel group.

Addressing the press inside the Barakat headquarters in Ex-Control Bal’ad, the state minister praised the government troops for their milestone achievement during the recent clashes in the area.He urged them to continue serving the nation and restore law and order in the country.

Al-Shabaab abandons its bases in Suqa-holaha, Mogadishu

Al-Shabaab rebel group in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, has pulled out of its positions in Suqa Holaha (Livestock market) for fear of attacks from TFG and AU forces, locals say.Reports say locals are fleeing their homes, fearing deadly clashes between remnant militant fighters and TFG forces but the area still remains calm.Business centers and public transport in the area is reportedly operating as usual despite the prevailing tension in the area.The area is one of the few areas under the rebel control. AU and TFG forces have on Monday launched attacks on militant strongholds in north of the capital, Mogadishu.Somalia’s military Gen. Abdikarin Yussuf Adan Dego-badan has promised to continue and extend their offensives against Al-Qaeda inspired rebel group to other parts of the country.Speaking to the media in the frontline, Gen. Dego-badan appealed to the youth not to be lured into militancy and urged those who are already involved to surrender and join the government forces in defending the public.He thanked the general public for their support in ensuring extremist do not hide in their areas, saying that their support has saw the government troops overrun militant bases in Hiliwa district.

Military vows to extend its offensives against Al-Shabaab to other parts of the country

monday:Update From The Front Lines. Operation Al-shabaab terrorist Clean up

AU and TFG forces have on Monday driven the rebel group out of its remaining stronghold in the capital, Mogadishu.Areas liberated from the militant group includes SOS Hospital, forma Pasta Factory and several other areas in north of the capital city.

 Gen. Abdikarin Yussuf Adan Dego-badan has promised to continue and extend their offensives against Al-Qaeda inspired rebel group to other parts of the country.Speaking to the media in the frontline, Gen. Dego-badan appealed to the youth not to be lured into militancy and urged those who are already involved to surrender and join the government forces in defending the public.He thanked the general public for their support in ensuring extremist do not hide in their areas, saying that their support has saw the government troops overrun militant bases in Hiliwa district.AU and TFG forces have on Monday driven the rebel group out of its remaining stronghold in the capital, Mogadishu.Areas liberated from the militant group includes SOS Hospital, forma Pasta Factory and several other areas in north of the capital city.

sunday: Update From The Front Lines. Operation Al-shabaab terrorist Clean up
PRESS RELEASE


TFG / AMISOM secure remaining al shabaab strongholds in Mogadishu

Al-Shabaab militants driven out of Mogadishu, Amisom  with TFG claims

African Union peacekeeping forces in Somalia have said they took control of the entire city from Al-Shabaab rebel group following Monday’s deadly clashes in the capital, Mogadishu.African Union mission in Somalia spokesman, Paddy Ankunda, said they jointly together with TFG troops flushed Islamist rebels out of their remaining strongholds in the capital Mogadishu.Ankunda said they captured Huriwa district after a joint operation by the government and AMISOM (peacekeepers) on Monday morning.He said they pushed Al-Shabaab to an area out of mortar range of civilians.He added that it has been a big achievement to remove Al-Shabaab from the city, and put an end to the fighting that disrupted so many lives, saying that protection of civilians from the sort of last week’s terror attack remains the biggest challenge.The new offensive comes just four days after an Al-Shabaab truck bomber killed over 70 people in Mogadishu.

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African Union 'drives al-Shabab out of Mogadishu' - Telegraph