Somali authorities have announced the launch of a new television channel to report on operations against Al Shabaab and counter the terrorist group’s propaganda, amid increased military offensives on the ground.
The channel, SNTV Daljir, was inaugurated by President Hassan Shaykh Mohamud, according to the state-run SNTV, which said the new channel «will cover information on military operations against the terrorists and give the public accurate information on the ground.»
The Somali authorities announced in early November that they were banning the use of the name Al Shabaab to refer to this terrorist group, which maintains links with Al Qaeda, and claimed that it should be referred to as ‘jauarij’, a word meaning «deviant sect».
On the other hand, the authorities have announced the death of about 50 presumed members of Al Shabaab in an operation of the security forces in the region of Lower Shabelle in which they counted on the support of international allies.
The operation took place in the area of Buulo Madino and resulted in the destruction of weapons and vehicles of the terrorist group, which was preparing «conspiracies to cause harm to the people of Somalia», according to a statement from the Ministry of Information.
Somalia has increased in recent months the offensives against Al Shabaab with the support of clans and local militias as part of a series of decisions taken by the president, who promised upon taking office to put the fight against terrorism at the center of his efforts to stabilize the African country.