Mohammed added, in a statement to Sputnik today, Tuesday, that naturally, divisions within the components of any country result in the weakening of that country, making it an opportunity for others to pounce on the state and achieve their objectives. He continued, in the Somali case, any division within a component of one side presents an opportunity for the other side, meaning that internal division in the federal government, regional states, or between them, is a strategic opportunity for ideologically armed movements opposing the government.
The political analyst pointed out that the best example of what it leaves on the security and stability system of any country, we find here in the Somali case, as a result of internal disputes, that intensive military operations against “Al-Shabaab” have decreased, which ultimately led to the movement regaining control over some areas in Hirshabelle state. This indicates that internal division presents an opportunity for these groups.
A few days ago, the Somali army announced the execution of a planned military operation targeting sites where militia elements were entrenched in the west of Bay region in the south of the country. Captain Onkod Malim Adam, commander of the 45th unit of the 8th brigade in the 60th Special Operations Division of the Somali army, explained last Friday that “the forces managed to thwart the militia’s movements and secure the targeted areas,” according to Somali news agency “SONNA.”
He added: “This operation is part of the ongoing efforts of the army to pursue the outlaws and cleanse their strongholds, contributing to enhancing security and stability and protecting the local population.”
The Somali Ministry of Defense announced this month that more than 100 militants from the extremist “Al-Shabaab” movement were neutralized in a joint operation with its international partners in the Lower Shabelle region in the south of the country. The African Union Mission to Support and Achieve “ATMIS” announced on August 3rd that more than 50 militants from the extremist “Al-Shabaab” movement were killed in a joint operation with the Somali armed forces in the town of Brier, southwest of the capital, Mogadishu.
In 2022, the Somali government and allied forces began a campaign to expel “Al-Shabaab,” affiliated with the terrorist “Al-Qaeda” organization (banned in Russia and several countries), from some areas in the central part of the country, but the movement continues to launch major attacks.
