By Frontier Online Team
Somalia has on Wednesday hosted Frontline Summit which brought together leaders from Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti.
The conference was pegged on multi – international and regional affront and combat against Al-Shabaab.
Major roads roads were closed in Mogadishu while flights were cancelled for the high- level summit.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud chaired the one- day meeting which was held at Decale hotel located at Aden Abdulle International Airport and was attended by Djiboutian President, Ismael Omar Guelleh, Kenyan President, William Ruto, and Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed.
Somali President @HassanSMohamud hosted today a one day summit for the leaders of #Somalia’s neighbouring states, attended by President of #Kenya @WilliamsRuto, President of #Djibouti @IsmailOguelleh and #Ethiopian Prime Minister @AbiyAhmedAli. pic.twitter.com/giW2fE0iLb
— Frontier Online (@FrontierOnlineK) February 1, 2023
Despite Mogadishu being in a lockdown and under tight security, four mortar bombs struck near Villa Somalia, the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu, Somalia, hours before regional leaders convened for the meeting.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
In a 15-point joint communique issues by the four Head of States, Somalia appealed to the international partners to joint its efforts in eradicating the Al-Shabab menace in the country.
The regional officials also applauded Somalia for the ongoing uprising and onslaught against the Al-qaeda affiliate group – Al-Shabab.
The leaders also agreed to jointly plan and organize a robust operational campaign at the frontline states level, of search and destroy Al-Shabaab on multiple frontlines aiming at the key strategic Al-Shabaab strongholds across the south and central Somalia.”
The statement said the multi-front operation is aimed at ensuring the group do not infiltrate into other wider parts of the Horn of Africa Nation.
The summit also brought to the fore the importance of respecting the territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia and further endorsed Somalia’s quest to have the arm embargo lifted on the country by the end of 2023.
The summit comes against the backdrop of sustained and heightened security operations against Al-Shabab by the Somali National Army in Central and Southern Somalia which saw large swathes of land wrestled from the grip of the outlawed militant group.
Al-Shabaab has for decades been waging war against the UN- backed Federal government and also staged deadly attacks in the neighboring countries.
According to data from Armed conflict organizations, the group has been responsible for deadly and high profile attacks in the Horn of Africa region.
