MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Mid-level Al-Shabaab commander defected to Somali government on Tuesday amid operations against Al-Shabaab geared up.
Abdirahman Hussein Wardhere better known as (by the group) by his nom de guerre Bilal has been fighting alongside the group’s fighters for the last twelve years.
Speaking to the media in Mogadishu after he was paraded by the Somali government, Bilal said he decided to desert Al-Shabab.
“I had been Al-Shabaab member for twelve years, making use of the amnesty that Somali President Farmajo offered Al-Shabaab fighters willing to give themselves up, I decided to leave Al-Shabaab,” he said.
Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo had several times offered Al-Shabaab fighters amnesty.
Government officials say the only negotiation can end Somalia’s 28-year-old civil war – especially given the ragged state of the military.
Al-Shabaab which lost control of many towns carries out deadly attacks in and outside the capital.
Somali forces supported by AU and U.S. troops have intensified operations to annihilate Al-Shabaab fighters from South and Central Somalia.
The forces destroyed Al-Shabaab bases in Middle Shabelle region on Tuesday after covert operations.
Military officials said several Al-Shabaab fighters were killed in the dawn raid that took four villages near Bal’ad town
Discussion about this post