Galmudug elders vow to support President Mohamud in fight against Al-Shabaab

Traditional elders in Galmudug have vowed to support President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s efforts of expelling Al-Shabaab militants from areas still under its control in the regional state.

The meeting took place on Sunday night at the presidential palace in Dhusamareeb, the administrative capital of Galmudug State.

The president underscored the elders’ crucial role in the fight against terrorism by uniting and mobilizing the people to support the army and stand against the Khawarij, a derogatory term referring to those deviating from mainstream Islam.

Mohamud arrived in Dhusamareeb on Sunday night with the mission of personally coordinating the anti-terror operations and accelerating the completion of the first phase of the offensive against Al-Shabaab which includes the liberation of all territories in Galmudug.

Speaking to BBC Somali, the deputy president of Galmudug regional state Ali Dahir Eid noted that Mohamud has temporarily moved his office from Mogadishu to Galmudug and will stay for more than a month to concentrate his efforts towards liberating Galmudug from Al-Shabaab.

Eid voiced hope in the terror group’s imminent defeat in Galmudug noting that the government has prepared over 10,000 fighters including members of the national army and macawisley fighters, and that it has secured air support from international partners for this mission.