Al-Shabaab operational commander defects to Somali government in Gedo region

Hiiraan Online
Friday January 5, 2018

Mogadishu (HOL) - A junior Al-Shabaab operational commander has surrendered to Somali security forces in Dolow town of Somalia's southern region of Gedo, according to Somalia's state-owned news agency.

Al-Shabaab fighters and their top leaders are on run from their hideout after Somalia and her international partners have intensified military operations against Al-Shabaab militants.

Somali News Agency on Thursday evening reported that Adan Ibrahim who was the group's designated tax collector had defected to the government.

advertisements

Ibrahim was said to be among the fighters trained for desert warfare and used to command dozens of militants.

SONNA quoting the Dolow security forces commander said the defector had an AK-47 assault rifle in his possession which he surrendered to the government forces. He added that Adan Ibrahim defected after falling out with the militant group's senior commanders who executed several of his comrade fighters.

Last week, two Al-Shabaab commanders who were identified as Osman Abdi Hassan and Ali Unsow Mohamed had quit the group and surrendered themselves to Burhakaba administration.

According to the Somali government, over 70 Al-Shabaab members have defected from the group since Al-Shabaab 's former spokesman and insurgent leader, Mukhtar Robow Abu Mansur, defected to the government in early August.

Somalia's president, Mohammed Abdullahi Farmajo offered Al-Shabab militants a 60-day amnesty amid his 'declaration of war' speech on April 6th. The amnesty has ostensibly been extended to include the recent defections.

The militants who want to overthrow Somalia's internationally-backed government have been carrying out attacks against military and civilian targets since 2011 when Al-Shabaab lost control of Mogadishu to SNA backed by AMISOM troops.

Home
Email