Saturday January 7, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - Several government soldiers have been arrested and are being investigated for their involvement in the
Villa Rays hotel attack on November 28, according to Somalia's Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre.
Prime Minister Hamza told Somali National Television on Friday that all soldiers on duty at the time of the attack have been arrested and that a thorough investigation is underway.
"We promised that authorities would carry out a real investigation. There is no doubt among the citizenry that the government is working to uncover all the details. We have decided that the (al Shabaab) militants are not with us. Don't live among these men," said Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud vowed in late December to
investigate security officials and soldiers who helped facilitate terror attacks on behalf of Al Shabaab.
The
20-hour-long al-Shabab siege on a popular Villa Rays hotel in Mogadishu killed eight civilians. Police said they killed five all militants and freed dozens of civilians during the attack.
The pocket-marked exterior of Villa Rays hotel following a nearly day-long gun battle between Somali security services and Al Shabaab fighters. The hotel, located near the country's heavily fortified presidential palace, is popular with senior government officials.
The attack began with a suicide bomb attack before Al Shabaab fighters stormed the gate.
He also discussed the ongoing offensive against the al Shabab group in the country's regions and the significant achievements of his government during his time as president, including the delivery of government services to areas recently liberated.
"We have developed a strategy to provide healthcare, water, education, justice, and other services to the areas liberated from al Shabab. The police have been deployed in Aden Yabal, and intelligence forces are being prepared. As we take them back from al Shabaab, we will also deploy police and intelligence forces in other areas," he said.