InsiderBLM Africa
The Somali government is fighting an “all-out war” against al-Shebab extremists.
The new strategy, which has been in effect since July, has already resulted in some gains in two regions of central Somalia.
The al-Qaeda-affiliated group has been fighting the government and attempting to establish Islamic law in the country since 2007.
The new strategy unveiled by Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, the country’s new president, aims to combine military operations with ideological and economic measures.
On the military front, the government has engaged the army and clan militias in the fight against extremists since September.
On the ground, al-Shebab fighters have launched an attack campaign against civilian targets in towns.
Somalia experienced its deadliest attack since 2017, with 121 people killed and 333 injured in a double car bombing in the capital, Mogadishu, at the end of October.
