Somalia’s President visits Harardhere, El-dher areas to intensify military operation

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accompanied by the Galmudug leader, federal lawmakers, and the Minister of Defense, visited Harardhere town in the Mudug region and El-dher district in the Galgadud region, both located in the Galmudug regional state.

Government officials stated that the delegation’s visits to these two strategic areas were part of the intensifying military operations in central Somalia. President Hassan Sheikh engaged with elders and other community representatives regarding the military operations and the liberation of remaining areas under al-Shabab control.

According to the United Nations refugee agency, on March 22, over 7,000 people were displaced in the central Galmudug region in just four days. The displacement follows the withdrawal of Somalian military forces from several areas starting March 10, 2024, creating a power vacuum which led to the al-Shabab recapture.

In late 2023, the Somalian government initiated military operations to recapture several key locations within Galmudug, including districts such as Ba’adweyn, Amara, Aad and and Hiinlabi.