Over 130 al-Shabaab militants have been killed in the last few operations around Somalia, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed, noting that the national army is determined to restore the rule of law and order in the Horn of Africa nation.
The operations, the Ministry of Defence said, were carried out in Galmudug, HirShabelle and Jubaland states within the last few days, just as the national army pushes the militants out of the strategic locations where they have been antagonising innocent people.
According to the ministry, the government will continue to support the Somali National Army which is taking over security responsibilities from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) who have started withdrawing from the country.
ATMIS has been in charge of security in Somalia for the last 16 years but the contingent has been gradually withdrawing from the country. The second phase of withdrawal is expected to end on December 31st, 2023, with the last team also set to leave by December 2024.