Friday July 3, 2020
MOGADISHU (Xinhua) -- A senior member of al-Shabab militants on Friday surrendered to the Somali National Army (SNA), a military official confirmed.
"Mohamed Abukar, the leader of al-Shabab for finance in the Lower Shabelle region, contacted our forces informing he was willing to leave al-Shabab cells to join the government army and the forces cooperated with him," Isma'l Abdi Malik Malin, commander of the SNA's 16th Unit, told reporters.
Abukar, now in the hands of government forces, will be handed over to intelligence authorities, Malin said.
The surrender comes as government forces intensify operations against al-Shabab extremists in the southern regions in recent months. Enditem