By Mohamed Shiil

Pro-government rally held in the areas of Mogadishu abandoned by Al-Shabaab

Mogadishu, Somalia

A pro-government rally was held peacefully in Mogadishu Tuesday hailing the withdrawal of the militant group Al-Shabaab from their main strongholds in Mogadishu earlier this month.

The rally, the largest since government forces took control of the capital, was held in the northern part of the capital abandoned by Al-Shabaab.

"The government will continue its fight against the Islamic militant group of Al-Shabaab until evicting them from the rest of the country," said Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, the country's prime minister, speaking to a crowd of thousands in the Conis football stadium in the Abdi-aziz district of north Mogadishu.

"We will restart rebuilding and improving roads, hospitals and public infrastructures," said the premier. He noted that the rally was titled Mogadishu's Freedom Day,- the eviction of Al-Shabaab from the capital.

Ali vowed that the government would fight against corruption and arrests criminals looting food supplies, whether they were government soldiers or freelance militias.

Mohamed Ahmed Nur Tarsan, the mayor of Mogadishu, who also spoke, urged Mogadishu residents to collaborate with government and African Union peacekeeping forces restoring peace and tranquility in the capital.

"We have defeated the trouble-makers destabilizing peace and security and now we are moving forward for refurnishing other main tasks for development," said Tarsan.

The demonstrators condemned Al-Shabaab as they waved the Somali flag while chanting patriotic songs.

The threat of Al-Shabaab is still imminent, said Mohamed Abdi, a political analyst in Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab still launches attacks in Mogadishu and has control in the southern parts of the country, he noted.

 

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World - Somalia: Pro-government Rally Held in Mogadishu | Global Viewpoint