Friday, January 06, 2012
In a statement the Somali government information ministry said that the Somalia prime minister visit was aimed to evaluate the situation and boost the soldiers morale.
The Somali prime minister was received with rapturous welcome by local people in the town of Baladweyne which was retaken by Somali government forces and allied Ethiopian troops from the Al Qeada-inspired Al-Shabaab fighters.
"The aim of the visit was to find out the condition of the city and the people, encourage the Army and evaluate the security situation in the region," said the government statement.
It further added that the Somali prime minister and his delegation held meetings with the Commanders of the Army, who briefed them of their planned campaigns "to liberate the other major towns in the region which it said were still in the hands of the Al-Shabaab terrorists".
The Prime-Minister and his delegation, said the statement, congratulated the Somali Army on their achievements in the region, and urged them to "redouble their efforts until all the other areas are liberated from the extremists".
The premier called on all the humanitarian agencies to come and help the people in the town after they were forced out by the Al- Shabaab commanders following their ban of aid agencies in areas under their control.
The group which is currently facing three major military offensives in the south and centre of the horn of Africa nation control most of that region in the country.