MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi on Sunday hailed the Somali National Army’s (SNA) “significant gains” against Al-Shabaab militants, despite a recent retreat from Adan Yabaal town amid heightened insurgent activity.
Fiqi said two years of sustained offensives had weakened the group, disrupting its financial and ideological networks. He emphasized the SNA’s resilience in defending Somalia’s sovereignty, even as concerns grow over the military’s capacity following last week’s withdrawal.
“Our armed forces are securing the future of this country,” Fiqi said, noting that Al-Shabaab’s ability to control Somalia was “impossible” due to public rejection of extremism. He urged political leaders and citizens to support the military’s ongoing frontline operations.
The ministry donated a truckload of food supplies to troops, with several soldiers still engaged in combat. Fiqi vowed the war would honor fallen soldiers, while the wounded would receive treatment nationwide.
Supported by the U.S. Africa Command and the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), the government has secured key supply routes and towns, reducing Al-Shabaab’s threat. Efforts to dismantle the group’s financial networks continue, Fiqi added.
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