Mr Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur Sidee, the Governor of Lower Shabelle region in Southern Somalia, stated that the second phase of the Indian Ocean military operation against al-Shabaab may start soon.
Talking to the local media on Tuesday, Mr Sidee said that the time set by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud for al-Shabaab militants to surrender to the government forces was over.
“Al-Shabaab fighters were given amble time to abandon the indoctrination by terrorists,” said Sidee.
Over three months ago, President Mohamoud announced extension of pardon for the militants who surrender from October 1 to December 31.