Hiiraan Online
Sunday April 3, 2016
MOGADISHU (HOL) - The Al-Qaeda linked extremist group in Somalia executed a Tanzanian fighter it accused of spying for the United States.
Isse James Muwaysiga, 27 from Dare Salaam, Tanzania’s capital who joined Al Shabab in 2013 was executed by firing squad in Jilib, a town in Middle Jubba region on Friday after a court run by the group convicted him of spying for the United States which carried out attacks against the group in the horn of Africa nation.A self-proclaimed judge read the verdict before a crowd which gathered to watch the execution at an open ground. Reading the verdict, the judge declared that the convicted man admitted all charges, and immediately sentenced him to death by firing squad.
Suspected persons arrested by Al-Shabab don't usually get access to lawyers, prompting outrage by the rights groups that accused the group of human rights violations.
The United States government which killed dozens of Al Shabab leaders including the group’s spiritual leader Ahmed Abdi Godane in airstrikes in Somalia in recent years heightened pressure on the group which it designated as a terrorist group in recent weeks.
The U.S. military carried out a drone strike in Somalia ON Thursday against a senior member of the al-Shabab militant group who has overseen attacks resulting in the deaths of at least three U.S. citizens, Pentagon officials said on Friday.
Last month, a US drone killed 150 Al Shabab fighters in central Somalia. According to the Pentagon, the air raid targeted a group of fighters who were preparing to leave a training camp and posed an “imminent threat”to American and African forces..
Two days later, Somali and American commandos in helicopters raided Awdhegle, a rebel-held town in the lower Shabelle region, killing at least 10 fighters, according to officials.
However, an Al Shabab spokesman who acknowledged the attack only confirmed that the group lost one fighter during the raid which he called ‘foiled’ by fighters.
US officials also confirmed the involvement by US forces in the raid; however, they declined to give further details about the raid.