(04-10-23) DHUSAMAREB — After a two-month-long offensive against Al-Shabaab, led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud from the front lines in Dhusamareb, the capital of Galmudug state, questions arise over the efficacy of the ongoing military operations.
Former security minister of Galmudug, Osman Isse Noor (Tardhuleed), offered a bleak evaluation of the conflict’s progress in an exclusive interview with Halqabsi News. “We can say that the president’s trip was not successful for some reasons,” said Tardhuleed, citing the continued presence of a defensive trench in Dhusamareb as evidence of limited advancement.
According to Tardhuleed, shortcomings in the war effort stem from poor coordination among military forces and local participants. “There is a lack of coordination in the teams leading the war. They are not in the war as they should be; whether it is the organisation of the army or the organisation of the community, there are significant gaps,” he added.
Tardhuleed further claimed that the focus of the operation seemed more on defending Dhusamareb than actively combatting Al-Shabaab. “The president is in Dhusamareb and today he is digging a trench to defend Dhusamareb; it is not a war against Al-Shabaab,” he said.
While the military has succeeded in reclaiming some areas, the pace of gains has slowed, and some previously cleared towns have fallen back under Al-Shabaab control. This contradictory progress is spotlighting the limitations of the federal government’s strategy even as military operations continue in Galmudug and Hirshabelle.
Last month’s VBED attacks by Al-Shabaab targeting the Galmudug president in Mudug, along with the foiling of two suicide vehicles bound for Dhusamareb outside the city, have raised questions about the effectiveness of the president’s strategy.
As the conflict continues to claim lives and destabilise regions, the question remains as to how effective the current strategies are and how long it will take to achieve any substantial progress in the battle against Al-Shabaab.
Halqabsi News
