Somalia’s govt declares all-out war against Al Shabaab

NAIROBI: Somalia’s government has declared “all-out war” against the militant group Al Shabaab and adopted a multi-pronged counterterrorism effort which — despite some early headline-grabbing military gains — promises to be long and difficult.

The dogged A -Qaeda affiliate was driven from Somalia’s major cities a decade ago but retains swathes of countryside, where a coalition of armed groups have joined forces against the insurgents in recent months.

Two clans in drought-afflicted central Somalia, sick of living under Al Shabaab rule, sparked a revolt against the group in July that quickly spread across the regions of Hirshabelle and Galmudug.

In September, the Somali National Army and Us-trained “lightning” commandos joined the fray in support of these clan militias, known as “macawisley” ater the traditional sarongs worn by their fighters.

“The government wants to seize the current momentum and encourage these types of uprisings across Al Shabaab-held areas in Somalia,” said Omar Mahmood, a researcher at the International Crisis Group think tank.

Though it isn’t clear how many combatants are involved in this broad offensive, the fighting has reached an intensity not seen in some years, with unconfirmed reports of hundreds killed in skirmishes.

Sources in Somalia suggest the fighting could have involved 2,000 to 3,000 “macawisley.” The militants are believed to number 5,000 to 8,000 nationwide.

Supported by US drone strikes and artillery and logistics from the African Union Transitional Force, this combined effort has chased Al Shabaab from the strategic provinces of Hiran and Middle Shabelle. In July, the country’s newly elected president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud outlined his administration’s plan for the militants: hit them militarily, choke off their finances, and counter their ideology.

“The previous policies were militaristic policies... atacking, destroying. But Shabaab’s problem is more than a military one,” he said.