The African Union, the European Union, the United Nations and the United States, Spain, Türkiye and the United Kingdom all responded to President Hassan Shaykh Mohamud’s call for domestic and foreign factors to support the battle against Al Shabaab, which is loyal to the Al Qaeda network.

We urge the leaders of the federal states and political and social factors to meet to coordinate a unified and effective response to the ongoing offensive, the president said in a statement circulated to the media.

They pledged “significant numbers” to the initiative, which encompasses civil society and opposition parties, to unite to fight terrorism and strengthen the state, including the separatist region of Jubalaland.

In recent weeks the Somali Army carried out several actions against Al Shabaab strongholds with air support from the United States, which has a base of operation of unmanned aerial vehicles in the capital.

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