March 3 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The governments of Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti are preparing to send new troops to Somalia to reinforce operations against the terrorist group Al Shabaab, as confirmed by the National Security Adviser to the Somali Presidency, Hussein Sheikh Ali.
Ali has indicated in statements to the US radio station Voice of America that these troops will join those already present within the framework of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), before adding that they will not be part of it.
“The plan is for them to be in Somalia in the next eight weeks,” he said, although he declined to give more details, citing “operational objectives.” “Their role is to plan and carry out joint operations under the command of the Somali security forces,” she stressed.
The leaders of these three countries participated in a summit in Mogadishu led by Somalia’s President Hasan Sheikh Mohamud on February 1, in which they reached an agreement to launch a “robust” campaign with the aim of “destroying” Al Shabaab. , linked to Al Qaeda.
In a joint statement, the governments of the four countries unveiled “an agreement to jointly plan and organize a robust frontline operational campaign to search for and destroy Al Shabaab (…) in its strongholds in southern and central Somalia.” “.
During the day on Thursday, at least two people were killed and six wounded in a mortar attack on the capital, Mogadishu. Al Shabaab later claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that its target was a Somali Police station.
Somalia has increased offensives against Al Shabaab in recent months with the support of clans and local militias as part of a series of decisions taken by the president, who promised upon taking office to put the fight against terrorism at the center of his efforts to stabilize the country. african country.
