Afgooye
The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia and African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM) declared they are ready to attack Afgoye district in Lower Shabelle region where the al-Qaeda aligned forces of al-Shaabab are currently operating.
Since the TFG liberated Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, the mission to attack Afgoye district has turned into a key objective for the allies. The seizing of Afgoye will allow Lower Shabelle residents, especially those in Afgoye district, easy access to Mogadishu, which gets most of its agricultural commodities like fruits and vegetables from the al-Shabaab controlled district.
TFG Commander General Abdikarin Yussuf Aden (Dhaga Badan) stated in a press release today that the TFG wants Afgoye residents to vacate the area as soon as possible.
“On behalf of the TFG, I am sending regards to the Afgoye residents and we request that they shift from Afgoye district as soon as possible due to TFG’s intended military operations. We want the residents to remain safe and avoid any harm to them,” said the general.
The deputy commander of AMISOM, Mr. Audace Nduwumunsi, similarly commented on the plans.
“I think it will be very easy for us to fulfill the mission if the residents agree with us and vacate the town unharmed and this will be beneficial to them and to us as well,” he stated.
“We are only doing this for the safety of the residents since the troops are more focused on war and they may not get time to differentiate between the fighters and the civilian residents. Residents might be injured and that is what we are against,” added Mr. Audace.
Abdullahi Hashi Gedi, a local businessman in Afgoye district, spoke to Somalia Report and expressed his opinion towards the call to flee.
“I think the idea is not bad but the question is will Afgoye residents agree with the TFG about this or not? I doubt if it is going to work because we as residents cannot live without Afgoye, since it is where we grew up and our families and children are living there,” said Abdullahi Hashi Gedi.
The TFG stated that it would be easier to capture Afgoye district if the residents agree with them and vacate the town as requested.
