Somalia’s president declares ‚all-out war’ on al-Shabab ‚terror scourge’

Somalia’s government will launch a “total war” against al-Qaida affiliated militant group al-Shabab following a recent deadly hotel siege in the capital Mogadishu staged by the group, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced in a televised speech on Tuesday (23 August).
Mohamud said it is time to come together to defeat the enemy, adding that the military’s recent operations in parts of the country gained significant ground. His remarks were made after he met with the country’s security council to discuss the latest attack on Hotel Hayat in the center of the capital city, killing at least 21 people and wounding more than 100. The president urged people to be prepared for an all-out war against the ruthless terrorists whose only principle is killing, intimidation, humiliation and carrying out atrocities against innocent civilians.
Mohamud also reminded the Somalis that upon assuming the office of the presidency, he pledged to launch a fight against al-Shabab to end the scourge of terrorism, an effort that has yielded tangible victories, especially in Galmudug, Southwest and Hirshabele. At the start of his second tenure in June, al-Shabab denounced the president as the worst of Somalia’s politicians, vowing to fight the new government. The group frequently targets hotels and restaurants in Mogadishu, where Somali officials and security officers are known to gather. It attacked the Hayat Hotel with suicide bombers and several gunmen. Security forces cleared the hotel after an operation that took 30 hours.