Somalia: The strategic cities of El Bur and Mahaas liberated from Al-Shabaab

March 27, 2012

Source: RBC Radio



The Somali Armed forces with the help of Ethiopian forces liberated today the cities of El Bur ( Galguduud region ) and Mahas (Hiraan region ) and the surrounding districts from the Al-shabaab terrorists without a fight.

It was a great joy to see the people of these districts welcome the liberating forces with flowers, showing their happiness and relief for the end of 3 years of subjugation and suffering at the hands of the Al-Shabaab militia.

The Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications, H. E. Abdulkadir Hussein Mohamed (Jaahweyn), in an interview with to the Somali National News Agency said, ” It is a great joy for all the Somali people, the government and particularly for the people of the two cities and the other surrounding districts to be finally free from the subjugation and the suffering forced on them by the terrorists.”

The Minister continuing his statement called on the residents of the two cities not leave their homes but to remain calm. “The liberating force is your own army and has come to protect you” he continued.

The Minister added, ” the Somali government has already said that it has a duty to bring back law and order immediately to all liberated areas; therefore, it is not right to take revenge against those individuals suspected of having had links with Al-Shabaab in the past.

These individuals should be brought before the law; the law must be the supreme authority and justice should be observed and respected.

The observation of these values is what differentiates the Somali government from the Al-Shabaab terrorists.”
The Minister continued his statement by saying, ” I am calling on the youths still in the ranks of Al-Shabaab, who are involved in activities which are against our religion and against common sense to leave these defeated & fleeing criminals, and the pitiless foreign mercenaries. Even at this late stage, you should take advantage of the government’s amnesty and end your involvement with them.”

Finally, the Minister called on all humanitarian organizations to quickly send assistance to the people of all these newly freed areas who are going through a difficult and dangerous time.