Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says that operations against the al-Shabaab militant group will not stop until final victory. Last night, the President delivered a video address to the nation following major setbacks in government military operations against al-Shabaab in Galgaduud.
Dhuusamareeb, Galmudug, SOMALIA. By Dalmar:
Hassan Sheikh addressed the nation amid soldiers’ protests over the situation on the battlefield. The Somali National Army (SNA) and allied local militias recently withdrew from Budbud, Masagaway, Gal’ad, El Dher, and El Buur. The withdrawals followed after the national army suffered a humiliating defeat at Osweyne on Saturday. Some troops reportedly moved to the Middle Shabelle region, others to Mogadishu and Dhuusamareeb.
“Our brave Somali army, you haven’t disgraced yourselves. You have no blame. You have done your best and did your part. There are people among you, it may be an officer, a soldier, or someone else, who has made a mistake,” the President stated, promising that these mistakes “will be corrected.”
“I want to tell you [the soldiers] that you have dignity and honour. You receive the rights [salary and other benefits] the country can afford today. […] I advise you to be patient and keep the promises you have made and sworn to by carrying the national symbol of the army and remain in your positions while doing your work.
“The fight will continue even if one battlefield is lost or someone spreads misinformation. It will not stop. We are not turning back from where we are. We will achieve the final victory that we seek. The importance is achieving a final victory. A final victory is near,” the President said.
Who spreads misinformation?
“Al-Shabaab today is weaker, smaller in number. We are more experienced, more in number, better equipped and encouraged. We have a victory that the enemy lacks. Victory is in our grasp,” the President said in an apparent attempt to motivate soldiers and minimise the fallout between them and their commanders. The soldiers are reportedly demoralised and traumatised by what happened in Osweyne. The army’s defeat in Osweyne, which the government tried to conceal, has been among the main reasons for withdrawal from the other towns in Galgaduud.
Although the President accused unknown entities of spreading misinformation, the evidence clearly indicates that the government and its media had misled the public. The government-owned Somali National News Agency (SONNA) did not report the SNA’s losses in Galgaduud. There is not even a single mention of this total collapse of what should have been a successful conclusion of Phase I operations against al-Shabaab. Instead, on Monday, when the SNA had already lost all the territories mentioned above except for El Buur, SONNA reported, “The Army, together with local forces, gained military progress.”
Moreover, not only did the government and its media remain silent, but they also spread disinformation about the recent defeats. When the SNA and allied forces lost Osweyne, the government media claimed that the SNA and Ma’awisley foiled the al-Shabaab’s attack after receiving prior intelligence.
“The SNA and Ma’awisley foiled an attack by the Khawarij militia [a derogative term the Somali government officials often use when referring to al-Shabaab] this morning in a recently liberated Osweyne. The SNA, which had the information of the Khawarij, fought bravely against al-Shabaab troops equipped with SVBIEDs [suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices],” said the Somali government’s statement.
As we confirmed from different sources, the government utterly lied.
