The Commander of the Somali National Army’s Ground Forces, General Sahal Abdullahi Omar, stated that the war the Somali government is waging against Al-Shabaab has transcended direct battlefield confrontations, alleging that other parties are providing the group with weapons, equipment, and training.
General Sahal, who visited the front lines in the Leego and Jamhuur areas yesterday, affirmed that the military will continue its operations against Al-Shabaab.
The Commander noted that Al-Shabaab receives external and technical support, enabling them to engage government forces across various locations—a reality that has transformed the conflict into something broader than mere domestic military operations. “It is a complex, multifaceted war. It is a conflict in which various global powers are providing support to the *Khawarij* [extremists] and terrorists, enabling them to fight the Somali National Army everywhere by supplying them with equipment and training,” said General Sahal.
The Commander did not specify which countries or entities he was accusing of providing this support. He also criticized politicians and media users, accusing them of injecting political rivalry and what he described as misleading information into the conflict; he urged that supporting the armed forces be prioritized over political disputes.
General Sahal stated that the military would not withdraw from the fight until they achieve their objective of ousting Al-Shabaab from the areas it currently occupies. He further called on the Somali public to support the armed forces through both their words and actions.
The commander’s remarks come days after Al-Shabaab claimed to have killed more than 200 soldiers from the Somali National Army in the Jameeca area of Buurhakaba district. These troops had been heading toward Buurhakaba—which had been seized by forces loyal to Lafta Gareen—with the aim of bringing the town back under government control.
