On Monday, Somali Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre presided over a Security Council meeting in Mogadishu to address accelerating security in the country, destroying the Al-Shabaab group, enacting security-promoting legislation, and removing the arms embargo on Somalia.
The summit heard reports on continuing operations in the country aimed at restoring general security and liberating the remaining Al-Shabaab-controlled territories.
The Somali Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement, “The meeting accepted the name and mandate of the National Center for Combating Extremist Ideology WAANO, which will be under the Office of the Prime Minister.”
Authorities also talked about the national plan to battle extremist ideology, which was underlined in the statement as crucial to the country’s ability to preserve a safe and peaceful society.
Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre has declared numerous times that his government prioritizes the country’s stabilization and freedom so that the Somali community can shoulder the weight of the Al-Shabaab group.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced last month the start of the second phase of military operations against the militant group Al-Shabaab. This second phase attempts to remove the extremist group from the country’s remaining areas.
The first phase, which began in August 2022, was a watershed moment in Somalia’s fight against Al-Shabaab. The Somali-led offensive in central Somalia proved the SNA’s advancement and increased capability.