Abdirahman Ali, Janale District Commissioner, has emphasised the importance of district-wide security coordination in protecting people and property from the Al-Shabaab.
He made this call during a joint stakeholders’ security meeting at the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia’s (ATMIS) Janale Forward Operating Base (FOB).
He stated that coordination is essential in the fight against Al-Shabaab.
“To maintain the fight against Alshabaab, coordination is paramount. Share intelligence and work as a team,” Abdirahaman said.
The commissioner thanked the Base Commander for organising the meeting. He emphasised that mutual understanding and cooperation will lead to peace in the area.
Capt. Michael Ojambo, commander of the Janale FOB, urged all stakeholders to work together to eliminate anti-peace elements in the area.
During the discussion, the commanding officers of the 66th Battalion, Capt. Mustafa Omar Alim, the 83rd Battalion, Capt. Mohamed Noor, and the District Police Commander, Lt. Gawow Axmen Laki, all agreed to work together with their ATMIS counterparts to deny Al-Shabaab the freedom to attack the people of Janale and the surrounding areas.
Matters discussed in the security meeting included the protection of the population and their property, the security of farmers, and the mobilisation of the population against negative elements in and around the district.
Janale district, which is 90 km from the capital city of Mogadishu, is among the highly contested areas of Al-Shabaab, given its proximity to River Shabelle. It is an agricultural food basket, and as such, Al-Shabaab continues laying illegal checkpoints along the pathways and extorting revenues and foodstuffs from farmers and homesteads.
A joint security task force with members drawn from the Somali National Army, Somali National Police, and ATMIS forces all based in Janale was formed to harmonise guaranteed security in Janale town and the surrounding areas.
