Hiiraan Online
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
MOGADISHU (HOL) ----Somalia's security forces launched a large-scale security sweep targeting suspected militants who were reportedly planning attacks in the horn of Africa nation outside Mogadishu, officials said Wednesday.
Hundreds of Somali and AU soldiers raided ELasha Biyaha, a former large refugees' settlement, making house-to-house searching operation in which more than 207 people were arrested.
Residents in Elasha Biyaha told HOL that soldiers paraded suspected militants arrested during the operation in an open ground in the area, releasing some of them after interrogations.
Security has been deteriorating in the Somali capital for the past few months with militants carried out series of deadly attacks across the seaside capital. Most of the attacks targeted popular hotels, forcing
some of the city residents to avoid their favorite hangouts for safety reasons.
Somalia's security agencies struggling to stop deadly attacks deployed hundreds of soldiers across the city, inspecting cars to prevent further attacks.
The Al-Qaeda-linked group which carried out the attacks vowed more attacks in the city which is recovering from decades of war.
Security experts warned insider attacks as the army which has restored relative stability into the once dangerous city have experienced sleeper cells carrying out attacks inside key government institutions.
Irregular payments for soldiers are often attributed to the corruption within the security apparatus. The impoverished horn of Africa nation government which relies on donor funding often find fault at late
payments that may well dent efforts by members of the army to stop militant attacks.
A 21 strong African Union forces are bolstering the government which is locked in a deadly war against Al-Shabab which stepped up guerilla attacks in Somalia and beyond, making the group one of the most successful arms for the Al-Qaeda group.
However, security officials believe regular security operations compounded with continual offensive against Al-Shabab fighters may reduce the group capability to strike at will which may turn tides
against the Al-Shabab group which increased attacks against the government and the African Union forces in Somalia.