Thursday Feb 15, 2024 {HMC} Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced on Thursday that the federal government has achieved a victory in the fight against al-Shabab and liberated strategic areas in the southern part of the country.
Speaking at a press conference in Kismayo, President Mohamud emphasized that the latest El-Nino rains had temporarily halted the military operation. He pledged that the federal government and Jubbaland State would collaborate to assist people in recovering from the recent floods and complete the operations.
Last December, Somalia experienced the worst flooding in decades, resulting in the deaths of over 120 people and affecting over 2.4 million people across the country, according to the Somali government.
During his press conference, Mohamud revealed that a Somali government delegation led by him would travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in the coming days to attend three major conferences, including the 37th African Union (AU) Summit, IGAD, and the East Africa Community leaders meeting.
“We will travel to Addis not only for the summits but also to convey our message that Somalia should not intervene.”
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud recently reiterated that Somalia would not engage in mediation talks with Ethiopia until Addis Ababa retracts from the illegal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with the breakaway region of Somaliland on January 1.
The MoU, which allows Ethiopia access to the Red Sea port of Berbera, has raised significant concerns regarding regional stability and security. Somalia has vehemently opposed this agreement, declaring it null and void, and has recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia.
Source Hiiraan Online
