– The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) and Head of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, congratulates Somali Security Forces, on their progress in the fight against al Shabab.
Somalia’s government-led forces liberated El-Dheer, Harardheere, Galcad and Hiindheere towns in the Galgadud region of Galmudug State for the past few days.
“ATMIS will continue to provide the needed support to ensure Somalia is free of terrorism and related activities,” said Ambassador Souef.
“Al-Shabaab has lost ground and together with our Somali brothers, we will continue to rid these Khawarij terrorists from Somalia to give the population security, stability and peace, which are important to economic and social development,” the SRCC emphasized.
Somali government forces, acting jointly with militias and regional forces from Galmudug and forces from the neighbouring region of Puntland, captured Harardheere, an al Shabaab stronghold on the Indian Ocean coast on Monday.
On Tuesday, the joint forces also took El-Dhere town in central Somalia’s Galgadud region.
Harardhere was a major base for pirates hijacking merchant ships until 2011. It was later taken over by al Shabaab, which first rose up against the government in 2007 before pledging its allegiance to al Qaeda.
Since launching a major offensive last August, the government and allied clan militias have forced the militants from swathes of territory in central Somalia.