Djibouti’s Guelleh predicts tough, long battle against militants in Somalia

President Ismail Omar Guelleh

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DJIBOUTI  – Djibouti’s president predicted that routing battle-hardened militants in Somalia would be hard and take a longer time than expected, as the militant group continue deadly guerrilla attacks across the horn of Africa nation.

Djibouti contributed one contingent to the African Union forces fighting the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabab group, becoming the third nation to join the strong 22000 force.

In an interview with the BBC Somali Service Thursday, president Ismail Guelleh likened Al-Shabab’s fight in Somalia to that one by the Afghanistan-based Taliban group which despite being driven out nearly all of its strongholds by thousands of American and western forces continues attacks and recaptured towns and provinces in the south Asian country.

“Despite the challenges, the international donors don’t provide sufficient resources and financial aid to Somalia’s stabilization efforts; however, a good progress has been made.” He said.

Mr. Guelleh has also warned of a long and tough anti-militants’ battle by allied forces in Somalia, accusing the international community of not being serious in assisting Somalia to stand on its feet again unlike Afghanistan where the US spent billions of dollars to the

Afghan reconstruction and security.

“Al-Shabab’s fight is all about Somali killing another Somali and brainwashed financers willing to sacrifice their wealth or lives to them.” He says.

Amid offensive by allied AU and Somali forces, Al-Shabab continues attacks including bombings and assassinations across Somalia. The group which lost most of its key strongholds maintain a large presence in rural areas, making it hard for allied forces to travel across the country.

HOL