30 March 2013
Government tributes local communities on the great security gains made in Lower Shabelle region
The Somali government has praised the role of the local communities on improved security situation of Jawhar and Bal’ad districts in Lower Shabelle region, after the government visit today.
His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon today visited the region with the Interior Minister Abdikarin Hussein Guled and the Minister of Defence Abdihakin Maxamud Haji Fiqi. This was a road trip from Mogadishu to Jawhar and back to Mogadishu that took only one day.
“My recent Listening Tour has taken me to many parts of the country. My priority wherever I went was the same: to listen to the people and their leaders, offer government support for local leaderships, and increase national unity as we build a functioning federal state from the ruins of war,” said Prime Minister Abdi Shirdon. “Today I come to you in the same spirit – to listen to your concerns, speak to your leaders, engage with the public, learn more about the problems you are facing and how we, together with your local leaders, can resolve them.”
Prime Minister congratulated the local community of their partnership with the Somali Army for defeating Al-Shabab in Jawhar, which was a strategic city for the group before they were crushed on December 9, 2012.
“This was a momentous victory for all of us and I applaud you for it, because not only that you defeated the enemies of peace but you kept peace in this city. With this sprit soon we will declare the whole region free of terrorists,” said the Prime Minister addressing a large crowd of jubilant Jawhar citizens.
Responding to the people’s concerns in terms of how to improve security, seasonal Shabelle river flood preparedness, and upcoming development projects to the region, Prime Minister assured active government role.
“It is our priority to bring government institutions and our development partners to Jawhar,” said the Prime Minster when asked about the government’s agenda on development and livelihood improvement.
Prime Minster and his team also visited Bal’ad and other main city in Lower Shabelle region. With the same sprit the government listened people raise their concerns openly to both demand services from the federal government and hold accountable of their local interim administration. On this occasion, the Prime Minister reminded the Somali people that there must be Somali solutions to Somali problems and ask our friends and partners to respect this.
ENDS
Ahmed Adan
Prime Minister’s Media Office
Mogadishu, Somalia
Email: media@opm.gov.so
Mobile: +252 (0) 616 440 028
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