Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in the Waragadhi area of the Middle Shabelle region on Tuesday to expedite military operations against al-Shabab in the Hirshabelle and Galmudug states of Somalia.
President Mohamud and his delegation held a meeting with military commanders and traditional elders in the area, discussing short-term plans to liberate the remaining areas under the group’s control.
The president has been on the front lines in the fight against al-Shabab over the past year, during which the army has reclaimed significant territory from the group.
Last year, senior U.S. defense officials stated that al-Shabab had reversed all Somali National Army gains made in central Somalia over the previous two years and was now working with Houthi militants to expand its capabilities.
According to senior U.S. defense officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security issues, the Somali National Army’s central Somalia campaign had put al-Shabab “on the back foot” for the past two years. However, one official added that the group had reversed all those gains over the last six months.
Somalia’s national security advisor, Hussein Sheik-Ali, dismissed the extent of al-Shabab’s recent gains, calling the assessment “rubbish” on Twitter.
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