On January 5, the United Arab Emirates paid tribute to three of its soldiers killed in Somalia during an attack carried out by the Al-Qaeda-linked group Al-Shabaab. A ceremony of honor was held in Abu Dhabi to pay tribute to these soldiers, as well as to a Bahraini military officer who also lost his life in the attack.
The attack took place at the General Gordon military base in the capital Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack in an online statement, calling the UAE an enemy of Islamic law for its support of the Somali government in its fight against the group.
Al-Shabaab, a Sunni Islamic extremist group formed in 2006, once had control of Mogadishu. However, thanks to the intervention of an African Union-led force, backed by the United States and other countries, the group was driven from the capital in recent years. Despite this, it continues to represent a threat to the stability of the country, still controlling half of Somali territory and regularly claiming attacks in the capital.
The withdrawal of the African Union mission this year risks allowing Al-Shabaab to regain ground, thereby jeopardizing the progress made in the country. Experts are therefore concerned about the situation and stress the importance of maintaining an international presence in Somalia to fight against terrorist groups and guarantee the country’s security.
This attack highlights the challenges faced by countries supporting the fight against terrorism in Somalia and highlights the need to strengthen international cooperation in the fight against these extremist groups. The UAE has paid a heavy price in this battle, but its commitment to helping the Somali government eradicate terrorism has not wavered.
It is essential to pay tribute to these courageous soldiers and support efforts to build a safer and more stable future in Somalia. Because the fight against extremism and terrorism does not only concern one country, but the international community as a whole. By working together, we can defeat these groups and allow people to live in peace and security.