Tuesday October 31, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - Somali Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre inaugurated a conference in Mogadishu on Tuesday, focusing on the role of clerics in promoting peace and reconciliation.
Prime Minister Barre emphasized that clerics and Imams play a pivotal role in raising public awareness and countering extremist ideologies. He highlighted the importance of collaboration between the people, clerics, intellectuals, and the government in addressing Somalia's challenges.
"I urge you to engage in reconciliation, stabilization, state-building, and the finalization of the constitution," he stated, underscoring the government's achievements in combating extremism.
On Sunday, during an event commemorating the first anniversary of the October 29, 2022, twin bombing at Somalia's education ministry in Mogadishu, Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre called on all Somali Sheikhs to participate in the fight against al-Shabab actively.
"Some Sheikhs and Imams in our mosques have not uttered a word about the Khawarij," he noted. "To those clerics who cannot address the issues related to al-Shabab, I say, open the mosque doors to those who can."
The Horn of Africa country has been plagued by insecurity for years, with the main threats emanating from al-Shabaab and the Daesh/ISIS terror groups.