(08-04-23) MOGADISHU –The Commander of the Somali National Army, General Odowaa Yusuf Rage, has visited the front lines of the war against Al-Shabaab in the Middle Shabelle region. The visit comes as Al-Shabaab has been mostly defeated in the region, with the army making significant progress in driving the militants out of their strongholds.
General Rage arrived in the El Ali Ahmed area, where the Al-Shabaab militants have been expelled after a 15-year presence. He visited the army camps to assess the situation on the ground and speak to the soldiers stationed there.
In a speech given to the local people and units of the 4th Battalion, 27th Division of the National Army in the El Ali area, General Rage urged them to redouble their efforts in the fight against Al-Shabaab. He praised the army for their role in removing the militants from a large area in Hiran and the Middle Shabelle, known as HirShabelle.
The Commander also announced that the operations against Al-Shabaab will continue until the group is completely defeated in the region. This comes as the situation in the Middle Shabelle region has grown tense due to recent increases in Al-Shabaab attacks on military positions.
The ongoing activities in the Hiran and Middle Shabelle regions mark the second phase of the operation to liberate Al-Shabaab from the area. Hiraan and Middle Shabelle have become the center of the current uprising against Al-Shabaab, with local residents actively participating in the effort to rid their region of the extremist group.
General Rage’s visit highlights the Somali National Army’s commitment to eradicating Al-Shabaab from the region and restoring peace and stability to the Middle Shabelle area.
