Ilhan Omar, a member of the US Congress, praised recent victories against al-Shabab terrorists in central Somalia by the Somali government and local militias.
Omar, a Somalian native, has been in the country since Thursday. She met with Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, members of the Cabinet, and lawmakers on Monday in Mogadishu.
Omar congratulated the Somali leaders for the “big success” against al-Shabab militants while speaking at a dinner in her honour that Barre hosted.
Omar urged cooperation in the fight against the group she claimed was “dishonouring” Islam.
Because of the shame they caused us, “our nation and our religion have been linked to terrorism,” she claimed. As Somalis and Muslims, “we must rid ourselves of them, and we must pray and help one another in this work.”
She said that local Somali representatives have been able to visit their constituents for the first time since they joined the government because of the military operation that freed the central territories from al-Shabab.
The last significant town in the Middle Shabelle region that was under al-Shabab control was Ruun-Nirgood, which was taken last week by the Somali government and local forces.
Odawa Yusuf Rage, the commander of the Somali army, told VOA on Monday that the operations have now reached the nearby Galmudug region. He acknowledged that there are still militants in some of the small settlements on the western side of Middle Shabelle, not far from the Hiran region’s border.
According to military officials on Tuesday, al-Shabab has placed restrictions on the employees and vehicles of Somalia’s largest telecommunications company.
According to the military, the militant group informed Hormuud Telecommunication employees that they were not permitted to move between areas under their control and those controlled by the government. The company’s vehicles are also subject to the restrictions.
The restrictions put in place on Hormuud Telecom by al-Shabab were confirmed to VOA by the military’s spokesperson, Brigadier General Abdullahi Ali Anod of Somalia.
He stated in an interview, “We heard that; we have received it.”
He claimed that Hormuud has been maintaining communication hubs and masts as well as bringing back services in recently reclaimed areas. “Wherever the army goes, they are prepared,” he said.
Hormuud Telecom hasn’t offered any comments regarding the alleged limitations.
According to Anod, the extremist group also aims to stop the general public, including pastoralists, from informing the army and police about al-Shabab movements.
A member of said group is under the impression that the army does its business using the telephone network. The military has its own communication system. He said they might not be aware of that.
Anod claimed that “they are punishing businesses and the public.”
Since operations by the military and associated local militias began in August, the Somali government says it has taken nearly 70 localities from al-Shabab. Anod claimed to have evidence of 11 incidences in which the organisation destroyed phone and communication towers in occupied territory.
