International backing helping Somalia advance in fight against al-Shabaab

Mahmud al-Batakoshi

Somalia moves steadily in counterterrorism operations, taking advantage of international support in the quest to liquidate al-Shabaab terrorist movement.

The movement has recently lost over a third of the territory it used to control. A large number of the leaders of the movement also surrendered to Somali authorities.

Siege

International relations expert, Gamal Abdel Hamid, said Somalia has exploited international and regional support in besieging terrorist elements.

“It has succeeded in liberating a large part of territories in the vicinity of the capital, Mogadishu, since the beginning of 2023,” Abdel Hamid told The Reference.

He added that the African country takes advantage of the mistakes committed by al-Shabaab, including imposing taxes and royalties on the local population and its unaccounted expansion in Somali territory.

He added that this expansion had facilitated the mission of the Somali army which receives support from Washington and ordinary Somalis harmed by the practices of the terrorist organization.

The international community, he said, has paid attention and is well aware of the danger of terrorist groups to global security and peace.

“Therefore, Washington has intensified its military assistance to the Somali government in its war against the terrorist organization,” Abdel Hamid said.

According to US sources, a US military plane loaded with advanced equipment recently landed in Mogadishu, which helped to crush the movement’s strongholds.

Recent actions by the Somali army also succeeded in the recapture of several villages from the claws of al-Shabaab.

Abdel Hamid added that American support to Mogadishu encouraged neighbouring countries to extend a helping hand to Somalia in its war against terrorism.

He referred to Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya holding an emergency summit in Mogadishu chaired by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

The summit, he said, resulted in enhancing cooperation between the countries represented in it in the fight against al-Shabaab.

Major challenges

Abdel Hamid cited some major challenges facing the Somali government on the road to ensuring long-term stability in the areas it recovered from al-Shabaab.

“Clans supporting Somali regular forces expect Mogadishu’s commitment to implement its pledges to provide all services and develop these areas,” Abdel Hamid said.

“So any government reneging on those pledges will undermine the confidence of the clans, and open the way for them to leave the fight against al-Shabaab and open the door for the return of the movement to these areas,” he added.