Somalia Govt Responses with Security Sweep, Reshuffle SNA, Mogadishu Curfew

Somalia Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre has chaired a special cabinet meeting to discuss the security lapse in the country, the capital Mogadishu in particular.

The extraordinary cabinet meeting saw the Internal Security Minister Mohamed Abukar Islow and his defence counterpart, Hassan Ali Mohamed put forward new security strategies in their respective dockets on the ongoing gap in the significant sector in the past weeks.

The Defence Minister Hassan Ali Mohamed alias Amar Dambe laid proposals to launch a new offensive against the armed group al-Shabaab in an effort to push them out of the areas still under their control.

The cabinet unanimously agreed to continue with the implementation of new security strategy to limit the ability of Al Qaida linked the militant group to launch explosive attacks in the civilian areas.

The Somali government has got calls from various sectors in the country to prioritise security related agendas after deadly explosive attacks hit the capital last week.

Hassan Kheyre administration pledged to do all in its capacity to improve security.

Mogadishu Curfew

The Mayor of Mogadishu who also doubles up as the Governor of Banadir region, Engineer Abdulrahman Omar Osman has declared a new security strategy to curb the increasing al-Shabaab attacks in the Somali capital.

“There are ongoing efforts by the leadership in the country to improve the security situation in the country,” Engineer Yarisow said, adding “to achieve that the security agencies with support from the members of the public are involved in an operation.”

Speaking during a press briefing in his office on Saturday evening, the mayor called upon the residents of Mogadishu to bear the challenges of roads closure during the security operations pledging to provide public transport.

Abdulrahman Yarisow who did not disclose the timeline of the operation promised to share the developments with the members of the public via the media.

The new security measures in Somali capital by the government follows after major reshuffle was made at the Somali National Army chain of command.

Similar changes were made to Somali police force last week.

All the above changes which scheduled to bring new security tactic in the country comes after simultaneous al-Shabaab explosive attacks rocked Mogadishu in the past week.

More than 18 people were killed and scores others wounded when a car laden with explosives parked in front of a busy restaurant along Maka Al-Mukarama road went off on Thursday last week.

SNA Reshuffle

Significant changes have been made at the Somali national army’s chain of command on Saturday.

Major General Abdi Hassan Mohamed who was a military attaché to Somali embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was appointed as the new deputy chief of staff.

Admiral Abass Amin will be the new Somali navy force commander.

The new changes will also see former force commander, General Odowa Rage as the new infantry chief deputised by General Abdirashid Abdullahi Shire.

The new changes follow days after similar transformation was made at the Somali police force.

The reorganisation is expected to inject new plans to improve the security in the country especially in the capital, Mogadishu which experienced deadly explosive attacks by the armed group al-Shabaab almost daily for the past one week.

Senior al-Shabaab operative defects to Govt

Senior Al-Shabaab commander has today surrendered to Somali authorities in Lower Shabelle region.

According to state-owned media, commander al-Shabaab, identified as Mohamed Ibrahim Bitow and one of his bodyguard defected to the Somali government.

The operatives reported to turn themselves in to military officials in camps of 14th October Battalion.

Ibrahim reportedly said he reached the decision to desert Al-Shabaab after seeing the group heinous attacks against civilians.

Ibrahim told the media that he fought alongside his Al-Shabaab comrades in many battles against Somali National Army (SNA).

“I was in commanded of 100 fighters, We carried out many attacks on bases of Somali military,” he said.

He has been fighting alongside Al-Shabaab fighters for the last nine years.

Al-Shabaab has not yet commented on the surrender of the commander to the Somali government.