Somalia’s President Declares War on Shabab Militants
By HUSSEIN MOHAMEDAPRIL 6, 2017
MOGADISHU, Somalia — The newly elected president of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, declared war on the Shabab militant group on Thursday
and offered amnesty to fighters, whom he referred to as "brainwashed youth," if they surrendered within 60 days.
His announcement came just over a week after President Trump signed a directive
that declared parts of Somalia an "area of active hostilities." The order temporarily relaxes some rules for preventing civilian casualties when the American military carries out counterterrorism strikes in Somalia.
At least six people were killed on Wednesday after a suicide car bomber targeted a cafe frequented
by government officials near the Internal Security Ministry and the Ministry of Youth.
The reshuffling of security officials looks like business as usual, said Hafzina Omar, a 22-year-old Mogadishu resident.
In the face of those challenges, the president’s cabinet on Thursday replaced the chief commanders of the army, the police
and national intelligence, as well as the mayor of Mogadishu, the capital.
