SOMALIA: Government claims success in Belet Hawo, while condemning execution of teenage girls

Khalid Yussuf

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Somali Government forces and local members of Ahlu-Sunnah Wal-Jama’a (ASWJ) have successfully repulsed attacks by the militants to destabilize Belet Hawo, in southwestern Gedo region.  More than two dozens of al-Shabab members were killed this week in their failed attempts to recapture this town bordering Kenya.
Soon after the government forces recaptured the town mid October, they have initiated community engagement programs and brought law and order. Unfortunately, extremists shelling of the town caused civilian casualties and massive displacement.
 
Likewise, the TFG forces have been making good progress in Bakol and Hiran regions where they have defeated militants. All efforts are geared towards ending the brutality of extremists in Somalia.
Somalia’s Minister of Information, Abdirahman Omar Osman (Eng. Yarisow), said:
“Somali Government commends the efforts by TFG and local ASWJ forces to eliminate the militants from these important regions. Such consolidation is very important in this critical time to reach our common goal of peaceful and prosperous Somalia.”
 
Meanwhile, Somali Government strongly condemns a public execution of two teenage girls in central Hiran region by al-Shabab extremists on Wednesday. An aunt of one of the girls told Radio Mogadishu that her niece was travelling to Bosaso to find her way out of Somalia.
The two girls were not given the right to a legal advocate nor were their parents informed of this barbaric act.  “This execution is yet another human rights abuse committed by the criminals. This act of killing innocent children does not have Islamic and humanitarian justifications.”
Source: Ministry of Infomation