Southwest state officials visit besieged Somali town

The purpose of the trip of these officials is to observe the situation of the people in Bardale district and how to carry out operations against the Al-Shabaab Organization.

News Keydmedia Online
15 August 2022

BERDALE, Somalia - A delegation from Southwest State led by the Minister of Security, Mohamed Isak Abdi arrived in Bardale to assess the security situation of the district.

The Minister is scheduled to meet with the Bardale District Administration, SNA officers, Southwest Darwish, and the AU forces from [ATMIS] and various sections of the community.

The purpose of the trip of these officials is to assess the situation of the people and how to carry out operations against the Al-Shabaab that aim to re-open blocked roads.

Road traffic in the Bay, Bakool, and Lower Shabelle regions in southern Somalia has been possible for a decade due to the Al-Shabaab presence in the rural areas between towns.

The continued Al-Shabaab blockade on major parts of Somalia has created inflation and exacerbated the humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa nation which was also affected by Covid-19 and the Ukraine war.

According to UNICEF estimates, 7.1 million Somalis, or half the population, will face severe food insecurity by the end of 2022 after the seasonal rains failed for the 5th year in a row.

The government which is supported by 22,000 African Union soldiers and US Africa command [AFRICOM] failed to liberate the country from Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda ally that has less than 10,000 fighters.

KEYDMEDIA English