Somalia’s Prime Minister Barre holds meeting with Farmajo in Qatar

DOHA, Qatar – Prime Minister of Somalia, Hamza Abdi Barre, recently met with former President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, also known as Farmajo, in Qatar. The meeting took place amidst the ongoing efforts to combat Al-Shabaab in Somalia, which has received widespread support from multiple countries.

In the past 10 months, Somalia has been actively engaging the militants on various fronts, resulting in significant progress, as reported by the government. Currently, the military is preparing for the second phase of operations against the militants who hold control over extensive rural areas in the central and southern regions.

During their meeting in Doha, Qatar, the two leaders discussed the achievements in the fight against the militants. Farmajo expressed his unwavering support for the operations, which prompted his successor, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, to visit the frontlines and boost the morale of the military.

The statement confirmed, “Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre paid a courtesy visit to former President Farmaajo at his residence in Doha, Qatar. They discussed political and security updates in the country, including the ongoing offensive against terrorists.”

The strategy employed in combating the militants has generated conflicting viewpoints. However, President Hassan Sheikh insists that his government has made remarkable progress in quelling the group, resulting in the death of thousands of militants. Roughly 3,000 militants were eliminated during the first phase of operations in Galmudug and HirShabelle states.

Last week, Farmajo expressed his support for the crackdown, urging Somalis to stand together against the militants who have hampered the reconstruction efforts of the Horn of Africa nation. He also called upon his fellow citizens to support the national army in their involvement on all fronts.

He stated, “I urge every Somali citizen to support the struggle for the freedom of our country and join in motivating and boosting the morale of our national heroes. The unity of the army and the people is essential for the success of the war against terrorism.”

At this critical juncture in Somali politics, this appeal for unity is particularly significant. Supporters of both Farmajo’s government and President Hassan Shiekh’s government have engaged in heated debates on social media platforms.

The debates primarily revolve around the management of the war against Al-Shabaab, especially in the central regions of Somalia.

Critics from both sides have been blaming one another for perceived failures. However, some argue that these accusations against Villa Somalia are counterproductive and detrimental to the fight against Al-Shabaab.