President Hassan Sheikh confirms his commitment to completing the constitution and liberating the country from Al-Shabaab

President Hassan Sheikh confirms his commitment to completing the constitution and liberating the country from Al-Shabaab

 President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud on Friday affirmed his commitment to finalizing the constitution and liberating the country from Al-Shabaab militants. The President said the constitution, which has been under review since 2012, must reflect the aspirations of the Somali people and be adaptable to changing circumstances.

The President added that the constitution will be handed over to various social organizations for consultation and expression of opinion, pledging that the government will facilitate its growth and development.

Sheikh Mahmoud urged the Somali people to be united and steadfast in the face of the ongoing war against the Kharijites, a term he used to refer to Al-Shabaab and other extremists who have been waging a violent insurgency in the country for more than a decade.

The President said that the whole world is watching Somalia's progress and that government forces, with the support of the African Union and other international partners, will continue to reclaim new areas from the Kharijites until the entire country is free and safe.

He also called on Al-Shabaab fighters to renounce violence and ask for forgiveness from Somalis, and urged foreigners fighting in the group's ranks to return to their countries of origin, indicating that there is no place for them in Somalia.