THE WAR ON AL-SHABAB SHOULD BE COMPREHENSIVE IN ALL SOMALI REGIONS AND BEYOND
You can’t fight the extremists in isolated pockets in some regions and give them respite in other regions to rest and regroup. That would be a bad war strategy bound to fail. Moreover, Al-shabab is engaged in guerrilla warfare, financial extortion, public intimidation and recruitment drive of unemployed youth. Bullets alone wouldn’t defeat Al-Shabab menace – the fight must be comprehensive in its approach to all issues in the extremists’ tool-box in all parts of Somalia, including Northwest Regions (Somaliland). It must be universal to engage international community in the struggle against this long playing terror group.
Recent rise of community awareness of Al-Shabab epidemic in Hiran Region (Hirshabelle) is a good example for others to take cues and join the noble cause of freeing this country from the destruction, murder and maiming of innocent people, and pervasive fear and intimidation by extremist bandits.
To deter Al-Shabab recruitment drive of idle youth, it is about time to introduce the strict collective responsibility of clans for their strayed youth in the ranks-and file of Al-Shabab mafia, while authorities, business community and civil societies do their part in addressing the problem of poverty and youth unemployment. Parents are better placed to help in the fight against this security menace.
