Farmaajo defended the withdrawal of troops from the frontlines as a military strategy.

He cautioned the Somali public against what he described as “cheap propaganda” allegedly spread by Al-Shabaab, aimed at discrediting the national armed forces and misrepresenting the situation on the ground.

Farmaajo recalled that during his presidency, particularly between 2018 and 2020, Somali forces managed to liberate strategic towns such as Marka, Jannaalle, Ow-Dheegle, Bariirre, Sabiid, and Caanoole, even as the military was still undergoing reconstruction.

He concluded his remarks by calling on both federal and regional leaders to prioritize national interests above all else. He also encouraged Somalia’s international partners to enhance their support to the Somali government and its people in the fight against terror.