Somalia announced the capture of a high-ranking member of the terrorist group al-Shabaab in the central Galgadud region on Wednesday.
According to the country’s Defence Ministry, the Somali National Army (SNA) detained Ali Geelle, a senior leader of al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist organisation, during a military operation in the Galgadud region.
The ministry also reported that the arrest, which took place in the Galhareeri district, resulted in the confiscation of a vehicle, a firearm, and ammunition. Geelle was implicated in activities such as extortion and the reprehensible practice of recruiting children for the terrorist group.
Over the past two and a half years, the Somali National Army, with the support of local militias, has been engaged in combat with al-Shabaab in the south-central provinces, reclaiming significant portions of territory, including the strategically important coastal town of Haradhere in the Mudug region.
Insecurity has long plagued Somalia, with the primary threats stemming from al-Shabaab and the terrorist groups Daesh/ISIS. Al-Shabaab has conflicted with the Somali government and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) since 2007. ATMIS is a multifaceted mission authorised by the African Union and mandated by the UN Security Council.
Following Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s declaration of an “all-out war” on the group, the terrorist organisation has intensified its attacks.