Hassan Istiila
Monday January 2, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud delivered a New Year's address on Sunday from Villa Somalia, pledging to achieve the country's debt relief process, complete the constitution, and liberate and ensure the country’s security.
President Mohamud outlined Somalia’s immediate goals for 2023, including strengthening and equipping the National Army Forces to accelerate the ongoing offensive against Al Shabaab in central and southern Somalia.
"During our tenure in office, we organized a massive operation against al Shabab, which the people supported, and that security operation will continue until the entire country is liberated."
The Somali government, alongside the Ma'awisley militia, launched the military campaign against al-Shabab in July in Galgadud region before opening another front in the Middle Shabelle region a month later.
Since then, hundreds of al-Shabab militants have been killed in Galgadud, Hiiraan, and the Middle Shabelle region. The government recently announced plans to launch an offensive into Southwest State and Jubbaland, dealing a massive blow to the Al Qaeda-linked militants.
Mohamud said that during the fourth National Consultative Council meeting in Mogadishu last week, four of the five regional state leaders - excluding Puntland - agreed on a national security framework with the federal government.
President Mohamud said that Somalia was committed to taking over its security responsibilities and emphasized the federal government would be ready when the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) leaves the country in December 2024.
Regarding economic reform, Mohamud said that 2023 would be the year of rebuilding the economy.
“The country is in an informal economy, but we hope to transform it into a formal economy that the world can understand.”
President Mohamud noted that 2023 would be the year Somalia would complete the debt relief process and join the East Africa Community (EAC). Mohamud pledged to increase the number of public schools and their teachers this year.
The President added that achieving political stability, conducting a national census, and building national institutions, especially the election and constitutional commissions, would be a top priority for his administration this year.
"We are focusing on political and social reconciliation. We are currently working on political reconciliation, especially the completion of the constitution. The federal system will be settled, and social reconciliation will be established."
"If we achieve this, we will be safe from political conflicts and terrorist groups. The government is working on delivering a consensual structure to refer to when conflicts occur.”