(30-08-23) MOGADISHU — Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo issued a rallying cry for national unity in the fight against Al-Shabaab in a statement released on his Facebook page on Wednesday. The former leader emphasised that defeating the terrorist group is a “national duty” that impacts the very fabric of Somali society.
“The task of liberating our country from the terrorists who deny us life, security, and development is a national plan that has been going on for the last several decades,” Farmaajo said. He urged all citizens to participate in boosting the morale of the armed forces, which he called the “national heroes” of Somalia.
Farmaajo’s statement notably calls for the unity of the Somali army and people as the “key to the success” in the fight against terrorism. The former President’s sentiments echo growing calls for a unified approach to tackling Al-Shabaab’s insurgency, which has claimed thousands of lives and displaced even more.
The former President also took the opportunity to pay tribute to soldiers who have “sacrificed their lives” in the struggle against Al-Shabaab. “May God have mercy on the veterans who sacrificed their lives to free our country from terrorism, and other veterans who have been injured, I pray to God for health and speedy recovery,” he said.
Farmaajo’s statement adds a high-profile voice to the chorus calling for unified national action against Al-Shabaab. With the current administration and security forces in need of public support, such calls may contribute to galvanising collective action. However, the real effectiveness of these calls will only be apparent in the days to come, as Somalia grapples with the complex issue of eradicating terrorism from its soil.
Halqabsi News
