Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud indicated on Thursday that "a military operation against Al-Shabaab will aim to eradicate the group linked to Al-Qaeda within the next five months," although security experts expressed skepticism about this timeline amid the group’s ongoing attacks. The president stated, "The country wants to eliminate Al-Shabaab within the next five months," noting that if the group is not completely eradicated, what will remain will be a few pockets with a limited number of its members, who cannot cause significant trouble."
The first phase began in August of last year, with military support for armed groups from the clans in central Somalia. Mohamud intends to officially launch the second phase of the campaign in the coming days from the town of Tosmreb in central Somalia, a site where thousands of soldiers are gathering before they are deployed to the fronts.
The second phase targets southern Somalia, a region considered the traditional stronghold of Al-Shabaab, which has been armed against the government since 2006. Security analysts questioned the feasibility of the promises to eradicate the group, stating that it has deep roots within communities across the country, while the experience and capabilities of government forces are limited.
