Somalia on Sunday celebrated the victory of its army in liberating villages from the al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabaab terrorist group.
Galmudug regional state Vice President Ali Dahir congratulated the people for regaining control over several areas in the Mudug region.
Somalia has been plagued by years of insecurity with the main threats coming from the Al-Shabaab group.
The army, with the help of peacekeeping missions and local forces, are fighting Al-Shabaab militants, who control larger swathes of Somali territory.
Dahir said the armed forces have achieved “successive victories” in their war to “liberate the country from terrorism.”
The country’s official news agency, SONNA, said the army and the local forces captured Sargo and Qodqod areas in the Mudug region, killing 30 Al-Shabaab terrorists as part of their ongoing operation to liberate Somalia from the group.
The armed forces and the local forces have taken full control of Sargo and Qodqod in Mudug, it said.
A government statement lauded “the heroic role of local forces who stood alongside the national army to eliminate terrorism,” adding that it is determined to punish the terrorist conspirators who dare to harm the Somali people.
