Somalia leader calls for collaboration to defeat terrorism

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud on Saturday called for collaboration between security officers and Somalis to defeat terrorism.

"We are in a fight with an enemy at international level which is dangerous for our security and existence. The enemy is Al-Shabaab whose aim is to massacre people, the evidence is how they are targeting our Somali people ruthlessly, we can defeat them if we are united against them," Mohamoud said at a security forum in Mogadishu.

The Somali leader said that the government will strive to solve payment delay of the National Army and will give their rights as soon as possible considering financial constraints which is being faced by the government.

"We have heroes who are losing their lives for saving mothers and children of Somali people, those who lost their lives in the latest attacks were martyrs defending people and the nation," president Mohamoud added.

He also welcomed the decision by the cabinet this week on security measures aimed at minimizing the risk of terrorist group. He said the measures are meant to counter Al-Shababa attacks in the restive capital and across the Horn of Africa nation.

President Mohamoud's remarks come as the Al-Qaida linked group has increased their attacks in Mogadishu and the rest of the country last week in which many people, mostly civilians were killed.

Somali National Army backed by the African Union peacekeeping troops removed the Al-Shabaab group in 2011, but it still carries out frequent attacks showing it is not defeated. Endit