MOGADISHU, Somalia
The Somali army killed over 200 terrorists with ties to the al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab during military operations that took place in three states and liberated large swaths of territory from the terrorist group, a senior government official said on Wednesday.
Somalia’s Information Minister Daud Aweis said at a news conference in the capital Mogadishu that the operations took place in Galmudug, South West State, and Jubaland.
“Over 200 al-Shabaab Khawarijs have been killed by the army this week,” he said.
He added that the army also liberated large swaths of territories from the terrorist group in the Mudug region and captured a “senior” explosive expert of the terrorist group.
Aweis also said President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has called on Somali people to contribute $1 per person to the “national defense and liberation program.”
“This move is intended to speed up military operations to eliminate terrorists and give people more opportunities to participate in ongoing operations,” he explained.
The Somali National Army has been fighting al-Shabaab terrorists since President Mohamud declared an “all-out war” on them after his re-election for a second term in May last year.
Under increasing pressure from military operations, al-Shabaab terrorists have intensified attacks in the country in recent days, targeting security personnel, military bases, and government installations.
Somalia has been plagued by insecurity for years, with al-Shabaab and Daesh/ISIS being the main threats.
The UN has warned of growing insecurity in the country, issuing periodic reports last year detailing attacks by al-Shabaab and pro-Daesh/ISIS terror groups.
