Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Macalin Fiqi has announced that more than 800 fighters, including 50 leaders, have been killed in the last year in the fight against Al-Shabaab and ISIS.
The minister said that the government is now launching a new campaign to eliminate Al-Shabaab, focusing on areas it has recaptured and those it previously held in the country. He noted that in recent months, the government has been working on reforming and training the army.
Fiqi also said that it has been proposed to add 10,000 new soldiers to the budget to fill the gaps left by soldiers who have died, been injured, disabled or defected. However, the minister revealed that this measure has not yet been implemented.
The minister noted that Somalia has been fighting terrorism for 18 years, adding that building a strong Somali army can defeat Al-Shabaab and ISIS. He criticized the international community for not providing sufficient support for the building and equipping of the army, which he said had contributed to the liberation of many parts of the country.
The Minister of Defense also expressed concern that the government forces lacked large-scale weapons to fight Al-Shabaab, which is hampering the country’s security efforts.
