Senior Al-Shabab leader in Bay region has surrendered to Somali forces, State owned media reported on Thursday.
Moalim Gedow Abukar who was the head of the group in the region reportedly defected to the government.
Somali News Agency quoting the leader said he denounced the violence and accepted to down his arm.
It was not reported the date of the defection and his current whereabouts.
According to SONNA, his fall out with the group came after he disagreed with the group’s top leaders over the attacks against the civilians.
Abukar will be the second high ranking Al-shabab member to join the government from Baay region in less than a year.
Late last year, Sheikh Mukhtar Robow who was deputy leader and spokesman for Al-Shabab defected to the government.
Robow hails Baay region where currently leads forces against his former organization.
Local media also reports the defection of another Al-shabab leader in country’s southern region.
Abdirahman Fiilow who was said to be the group’s head of Gedo region surrendered to the government forces.
Somali government has not officially commented on the defect of these two leaders.
Al-Shabab fighters and their top leaders are on run from their hideout after Somali government and her international partners have intensified military operations against the group.
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