Al Shabab terrorism: Somali Defence Minister Moallim Fiqi vows 'complete liberation'

Somalia’s Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi has declared that the country’s armed forces are better prepared than at any point in recent years to intensify military operations against Al Shabaab terrorists, saying the government had strengthened its military, expanded operational capacity, and restored confidence in state institutions.

Speaking on Sunday during a visit to frontline troops in the recently recaptured town of Ceel Dheer in central Somalia, Fiqi praised soldiers for driving Al Shabab from the area and securing communities that had spent more than 15 years under the terrorists’ control.

Addressing senior military commanders and members of the Somali National Army, including logistics and elite Gorgor special forces leaders, the defence minister said President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had ordered both the armed forces and the public to prepare for a renewed nationwide campaign against the terrorist group.

“Our preparations are stronger than before,” Fiqi said. “The army has expanded, morale is higher, and Somalia has a government that is determined to complete the liberation of the country.”

Fiqi said the campaign was not only about reclaiming territory but restoring the authority of the Somali state and allowing civilians to live without fear.

‘Army’s operational capabilities’

“We are liberating people as much as we are liberating land,” he said, adding that communities such as Ceel Dheer had regained their freedom after years of Al Shabab control.

The minister argued that Somalia’s security institutions have undergone significant transformation in recent years, pointing to improved troop mobility, expanded deployments across federal member states, and greater operational coordination.

He said Somali forces are now capable of deploying across areas that were once considered inaccessible because of insecurity, citing operations stretching from Middle Shabelle to Baydhabo, Hirshabelle, Galmudug, and Puntland.

According to Fiqi, roads previously regarded as too dangerous for military convoys are now being used by government forces, reflecting what he described as growing confidence in the army’s operational capabilities.

“The Somali National Army is no longer confined to limited areas,” he said. “Our forces can operate across the country, and there are no regions beyond their reach.”

He also said improved security could help unlock Somalia’s economic potential, particularly oil exploration.

National celebrations

Much of Fiqi’s address focused on countering Al Shabab’s ideological narrative. Using the term Khawarij, the label adopted by Somalia’s government for the terrorists, he said that the group’s ideology has been rejected by Somalia’s religious establishment and was incompatible with the country’s centuries-old Islamic traditions.

The defence minister urged Somalis to unite behind the military campaign, describing national cohesion as essential to defeating the insurgency.

“Our enemies seek to exploit our differences,” Fiqi said. “The strength of Somalia lies in the unity of its people, its government, and its armed forces.”

He praised soldiers for their resilience and professionalism, describing the military as one of the country’s strongest national institutions and urging troops to maintain discipline as operations continue.

Fiqi also pointed to what he described as improving security conditions in Mogadishu, noting that recent National Day celebrations had drawn hundreds of thousands of people to the capital’s streets.

He cited the ability of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to appear publicly with minimal security during the Independence Day commemorations as evidence that government security operations had significantly reduced the threat of large-scale attacks in the capital.

“The peace that citizens are experiencing today has been secured through the sacrifices of our armed forces,” he said.