Mogadishu, Somalia – Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has defended the withdrawal of government troops from frontlines as part of military strategy, arguing that such movements should not be seen as military defeat.

In a statement released Tuesday night, Farmaajo said pulling troops from towns or battle zones for tactical reasons is a common military practice and should not be misconstrued.

“In the case where the national army pulls back from towns as part of a strategy, it does not mean that we have been defeated,” he emphasized.

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.