Today's Edition
ABDULLAH ABU DAIF (MOGADISHU - CAIRO)
Somali political groups have stressed the importance of supporting the Tribal Union, which is undergoing intense battles with terrorist groups and their remnants in desert areas. This comes at a time when the country is on a stable political course for the first time in decades, thanks to a comprehensive national dialogue that includes all political factions away from terrorist elements.
Since the withdrawal of The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) forces, who were deployed to maintain security in Somalia, fears have increased about the possibility of terrorists exploiting the weak infrastructure and security system to attack urban areas and assault members of the army and police, and consequently, disrupt the development plans launched by Somalia.
Somali political analyst Yasin Said said that joining all efforts is crucial in the upcoming period to maintain the development path launched by officials and national assembly movements. He added that the outlooks are finally favourable after decades of trying to combat and prevent terrorism from spreading.
Said said that it is important to support the Somali tribes, especially those living in remote areas, to confront the terrorist elements that exploit, for example, the lone wolf tactic to carry out their criminal operations. Lone wolf tactic is a term used to describe individuals who act alone in executing a terrorist attack without the direct involvement of a terrorist organisation.
The political analyst noted that supporting the tribes would be a blow to terrorist elements and affirm Somalia’s unity in preventing the return of terrorism.
Hassan Ali Sheikh, a professor of political science in Somalia, underlined that the upcoming period requires the solidarity of all political forces to continue the efforts to eradicate terrorism in the country. He added that joint work has proven to be successful in recent years in eliminating most of the extremist groups that caused corruption in Somalia.
Sheikh explained that tribes are part of the Somali identity, especially the ones situated in remote areas, adding that they have faced a larger frequency of terrorist attacks than other locations in the country and courageously defended the infrastructure.
Continued support and solidarity against extremist elements in all ways during the upcoming period is necessary to prevent the return of terrorism, protect all Somali regions, and continue the national dialogue, he said.
