Hiiraan Online Today from Hiiraan Online: Somali Music Google Plus advertisements Protecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is our shared responsibility 195 Shares FacebookFacebook messengerTwitterWhatsAppLinkedInTelegramEmail Thursday May 1, 2025 By President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud I have survived six assassination attempts by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab since my tenure as President of Somalia began in 2012. The most recent attempt on my life came on March 18, 2025. I was in Mogadishu, on my way to the airport to join our heroic forces on the front lines, when the terrorists tried to end my journey with the use of explosives. By the grace of God and thanks to the vigilance of our security forces, however, their plan failed, just like all of their previous attempts had. These assassination attempts are not so much attacks on me as an individual as they are a reflection of the fact that the enemy has understood the nature of our national project. Our mission is to save Somalia from terrorism and build a stable future for its people and the region. Al-Shabaab has come to understand that rooting them and similar terrorist groups out would not only liberate Somalia, but also lay the foundations for security and stability in the Horn of Africa and the broader region, which they correctly see as an existential threat. Since assuming office for a second time in 2022, I have made taking the fight to Al-Shabaab and ISIS my priority. We have developed a holistic strategy, targeting them on two main fronts: ideological and financial. On the ideological front, we have worked with more than 300 leading scholars to expose the falsehood of these groups’ discourse and show that Islam is innocent of their crimes. Through media campaigns and awareness programs, the peaceful Somali people have clarity again, and we reject extremism in all its forms. On the financial front, we have diligently sought to cut off sources of terrorist financing. We shut down hundreds of suspicious bank accounts and dismantled many of the networks that the groups had used to extort citizens and businesses. These efforts have allowed our armed forces to clear vast areas of the country. Thus, our resolve remains strong despite the severe challenges and losses; our progress is tangible, and our succession of victories continues. Our battle with terrorism is not merely a domestic struggle. It is a battle for the peace and stability of the entire region. Indeed, terrorism knows no borders, and defeating terror in Somalia means nipping the problem in the bud before the terrorists can threaten our neighbors and the world. The strategic importance of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for global security and economy is well understood. Several terrorist groups operate there, most notably Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, ISIS, and the Houthis (groups that, despite their apparent differences, secretly collaborate and coordinate their roles against the states of the region, including Somalia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf region as a whole). Having recognized these threats, we stood with our brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from day one, joining the Islamic coalition to combat Houthi terrorism, which has attacked the Kingdom, its religious and economic stature, as well as harming the Yemeni people by imposing foreign hegemony on the country. Our intelligence services recently detected communications between the Houthis in Yemen and both ISIS and Al-Shabaab in Somalia. Their relationship has evolved, and they are now exchanging weapons and expertise. We have also succeeded in intercepting and seizing shipments of explosives and drones en route from Yemen to Somalia and arrested an arms trafficking network. On the field, we are engaged in fierce battles on two main fronts. The first in the Cal Miskaad Mountains and the Golis mountain range (adjacent to the Gulf of Aden in the northeast of the country), where our forces have won one victory after the other. However, we need the support of regional partners to prevent the Gulf of Aden from becoming a hub for terrorist groups. The second front is in the center, along the banks of the Shebelle River. Our soldiers have been waging decisive battles for years with the support of the African Union Mission to Somalia. These operations aim to prevent the terrorist group Al-Shabaab from seizing Somalia’s coastline along the Indian Ocean, and significant progress is being made. The terrorists intend to take control of vital maritime waters, both in the Gulf of Aden and along the Indian Ocean coast, two arteries crucial to the region and the world. Rooting out the terrorist groups active in these two regions will determine our shared security and economic future as nations along the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and it is crucial for preventing the fires of terrorism from spreading to other regions. We have paid a high price and taken a difficult path, but we believe that our destination is worth every sacrifice. By God’s grace, and with the determination of our people and the support of our friends, we will press forward until we see a new, safe Somalia that constitutes a pillar of regional and international peace. Achieving peace and security in Somalia cannot be isolated from regional stability in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. As we continue to relentlessly combat terrorism, we extend a hand to our partners and brothers in the region and beyond. We count on their support, because we believe that the security of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden is a collective responsibility that demands cooperation and integration among all the countries of the region. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, serving his second term since 2022. Opinion| Privacy Policy|Sports|Somali Music|Somali Map All Rights Reserved Copyright. © 1999-2025, www.hiiraan.com