A former leader of the regional state of HirShabelle has thrown his weight behind stories that the government seeks to urge the African Union to postpone withdrawal of its troops from Somalia.
Ex-President Mohamed Abdi Ware supports the request by the government for a pause in the withdrawal of the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) troops.
There has been no confirmation or denial whether the federal government has formally applied for the pause from AU, though.
Nevertheless, Ware believes that the pause would benefit the ongoing operations against Al-Shabaab militants in the country.
He added that such move would make it easier for security authorities to continue holding key towns such as Wajid, Hoddur, Dinsor, Qansahdere, and Qoryoley.
“We don’t have enough troops to do both,” said Ware.