Haradhere’s capture is being hailed by Somalis as a significant triumph in the conflict with the Islamist insurgent organisation al-Shabab. The port, which served as a base for Somali piracy, was a significant source of income for the terrorists. But according to observers, it will be difficult to win over the local population while retaining control of Harahere and other militant-held territory.
Since July, the Somali army and clan militia have been waging a ground operation against al-Shabab. The conquest of Harardhere is arguably their largest victory to date.
2011 saw the peak of Somalia’s piracy, and Harardhere served as the major harbour from which pirates commandeered ships and held them hostage for a ransom. However, it was taken over by al-Shabab, who have subsequently used it to tax imported commodities in order to raise money.
The seizure of Harardhere, which adds to a growing number of cities and villages coming under government control, was praised by Somalia’s defence minister, Abdulkadir Nur.
We’d like to thank all of the military forces, but especially the Somali army, for helping to get the enemy out of the Gal’ad and Harardhere districts.
Conflict researcher and SIMAD University lecturer Shoki Hayir told VOA that the military operation, which has been ongoing for almost eight months, has made progress with the conquest of Hararhere.
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He claimed that Somalia and the local soldiers had triumphed in a historic battle. It is a success that raises soldier morale and is an important accomplishment for the government of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, which will quicken country-liberation efforts.
Hayir says that despite these successes by the Somali army, the government still needs to quickly set up a presence and win the support of the local people to make sure that the recently freed areas do not fall back under the control of al-Shabab.
The areas were under al-Shabaab control for a considerable amount of time, so it is beneficial for the top government officials to visit the liberated areas promptly in order to bolster the morale of the inhabitants and engage with them. In order to prevent the loss of the liberated territories once more, he added, it is crucial for the military and local militias to set up bases there.
The capture of Harardhere, according to Ahmed Hadi, director of Somali Civic House, a policy and governance think tank in Mogadishu, is a win for both the military and the local populace.
He asserted that taking over Harare is a crucial step in the administration’s decentralisation strategy. Because such areas have been isolated from the rest of the country for a long time, the town is also critical for the flow of people and goods.
Hadi also said that the government should be ready for any conflicts over resources in the area.
Al-Shabab, which has been fighting Somalian administrations for the past 15 years, was the target of President Mohamud’s “all-out war” declaration last year.
According to the administration, this group is the target of financial retaliation. In Mogadishu last week, President Mohamud announced to a crowd that the government had shut down 250 bank accounts and seven mobile money accounts believed to be connected to al-Shabab.
According to him, this action deprives the militant group of funding for its operations.
