MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Federal Government of Somalia has announced that 3,795 Al-Shabaab terrorists have been killed since the start of its military operations against the extremist group.
According to News Releases by Somali National News Agency, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, HE Daud Aweis Jama, revealed that the Somali National Army, supported by local forces, has liberated over 120 areas from the control of Al-Shabaab militants. During the operations, 350 bank accounts, 405 telephone numbers, and 18 merchant business accounts linked to the group were suspended.
Furthermore, the army destroyed 73 bases and 68 networks that the terrorists utilized for propaganda and recruitment. The minister declared that the government is entering the second phase of its military offensive, targeting all sources of financing for the extremist group, including businesses. In a significant move, $150 million intended for Al-Shabaab has been intercepted.
The Federal Government has also dismantled information technologies used by Al-Shabaab, including four radio stations, 12 websites, and 14,789 social media platforms through which the group disseminated extremist ideologies.
In anticipation of possible retaliation, the Federal Government is set to launch a major security operation in Mogadishu to safeguard the capital and its residents.
Since President Hassan Sheikh assumed office on May 15, 2022, the Federal Government has committed itself to a concerted war against Al-Shabaab, and ensures compliance with international humanitarian law, human rights law, Islamic law, and Somali customary rules of warfare in its ongoing operations.