OSINT SUMMARY
9th December 2015, Interim South West State president, Sharif Hassan Sheikh has called on government and AMISOM forces to scale-up offensives against the Al Shabaab militants in Somalia.
The South West State leader warned ‘going slow’ or halting offensives ‘dying’ militants a chance to regroup he warned.
Halting of offensive operations against the Al Qaeda linked militant group in Somalia may gave them a greater scope to regroup and repair the dwindled morale after the militants having been dislodged in major strongholds.
Speaking Tuesday at a national consultative forum in Mogadishu, South West State president warned of the militants taking advantage of the void and step-up their asymmetrical attacks.
The South West State president warning comes amid Al Shabaab erecting roadblocks and extorting locals and travelers on highways including Mogadishu and Baidoa route.
With these blockades it’s possible for them to launch attacks on government and African Union forces convoy from their highway hideouts.
President Hassan has survived Al Shabaab attack when their ambushed on his convoy travelling between Mogadishu and agricultural town of Afgoye sometimes last month.
During the attack two of his security guards were killed and immediately Al Shabaab claimed credit for the attacks.
To avoid that occurrence government SNA and AMISOM forces urged to conduct multi prolonged offensives on all areas perceived as Al Shabaab zones, liberated areas also to be condoned with regular security patrols.
The leader also called on all halted offensive such as operation ‘Indian Ocean’ to be re-launched.
I urge the AU to add many troops in Somalia, that region is soo big while its a cat and mouse game