Friday 4,April 2025 {HMC} Somali Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre has formed a high-level National Committee to support and coordinate the country’s campaign against Al-Shabaab and ISIS-Somalia.
The committee is chaired by Second Deputy Prime Minister Abdisalan Abdi Ali and comprises senior government officials and security figures:
Ali Yusuf Hosh – Minister of Interior
Gen. Bashir Mohamed Jama – Minister of Environment
Dr. Ali Hajji Adan – Minister of Health
Mohamed Ali Hagaa – State Minister for Internal Security
Mohamed Ahmed Amir – Mayor of Mogadishu
Mohamud Moalim Hassan – Commissioner of the Disaster Management Agency
According to government media, the committee reflects a multi-sectoral approach to tackling the extremist insurgency from both military and ideological fronts. It will oversee:
The committee is tasked with coordinating national efforts to weaken terrorist networks through enhanced military operations supporting the Somali National Army (SNA) and regional forces in ongoing offensives, financial disruption targeting the funding streams of Al-Shabaab and ISIS, counter-extremism campaigns promoting deradicalization and community resilience, and security sector reforms to strengthen intelligence and law enforcement collaboration.
The committee is expected to convene its first meeting in the coming days to develop an operational roadmap, including resource mobilization, inter-agency coordination, and community outreach initiatives.
The move comes as Somalia enters a critical phase of its counterterrorism campaign. Over the past year, government-led offensives—backed by clan militias and international partners—have regained control of key areas in Hirshabelle, Galmudug, and Lower Shabelle regions.
Still, Al-Shabaab, a designated terrorist organization affiliated with al-Qaeda, continues to pose a major security challenge through guerrilla-style attacks and targeted assassinations, particularly in urban centers. ISIS-Somalia, though smaller, remains active in the north, especially in Puntland.
