Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Saturday made a surprise visit to the recently captured town of Barawe, which was the last major stronghold of al-Shabaab insurgents in the Southern part of the country.
African Union peacekeepers and Somali army forces seized the town last week without any resistance from the al-Qaeda-linked militant group.
Army commanders and hundreds of residents received the President who travelled to the port town by a helicopter from Mogadishu.
Mr Mohamud said that he was proud of the Somali and AMISOM forces sacrifices and heroic measures in defending the country against militants.
‘’ Today we are celebrating the liberation of Barawe from the terrorists, my government will provide the basic needs immediately,’’ said the President while addressing the crowd.
The army personnel also pledged to continue fighting for recapturing militant-held areas in the country.
Since the beginning of this year, the allied forces have achieved major victories in their battle against al-Shabaab insurgents across the country, particularly in the Southern regions.
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