MOGADISHU – Somalia's Information Minister, Daud Aweis, confirmed on Sunday that government forces have 'neutralized' 17 senior Al-Shabaab ringleaders during the last six months of military operations. Reaffirming the government's commitment to counterterrorism, Aweis stated that the Somali National Army, supported by the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), has significantly degraded the group's operational leadership. The minister also reiterated the government's offer of amnesty for militants who renounce violence and enter rehabilitation programs. This announcement comes amid a renewed offensive targeting Al-Qaeda-linked cells in central and southern Somalia, following the UN Security Council's decision to extend the African Union's mission mandate through the end of 2026 to ensure regional stability.