Somali prime minister, Hamze Abdi Barre has called on Somalis to fight corruption and al-Shabaab, terming the two as major enemies of the Somali people.
Addressing officials from different ministries, PM Barre has expressed his government’s commitment to end corruption in Somalia.
“The cabinet should exercise accountability and focus on corruption eradication. The top priority of this government getting free corruption environment. I urge you to implement and enhance all efforts to increase transparency in administration and management,” the PM said.
PM Barre also called for strengthening the fight against al-Shabaab fighters and their sympathisers, saying the group should be annihilated from Somalia.
The remarks of the PM come as the Somali government is about to launch the second phase of the operations against al-Shabaab in south-central Somalia.
Early this month, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared that al-Shabab would be eliminated by the end of the year.
Mohamud said the second phase of the operation would soon begin in Somalia’s Southwest State and the Jubaland region.
Somali government in cooperation with local clans in Hirshabelle and Galmudug state had waged offensives against al-Shabaab fighters last year.
The allied forces liberated dozens of villages and towns in the Hiiraan, Galgadud, Mudug and Middle Shabelle regions.
According to the statement by the Ministry of Information, the government forces backed by local militias killed hundreds of fighters in months-long operations.
Somalia is also depending on troops from Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya after the neighbouring countries in January agreed to jointly launch military operations against al-Shabab strongholds.