Wednesday December 21, 2022
Beledweyne (HOL) - Four al-Shabab members surrendered to the Somali government forces based in Hirshabelle state.
The group was led by a senior leader named Mohamed Ali Hassan.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Information on Monday, Mohamed Ali Hassan was the commander of the al-Shabaab organization in the Middle Jubba region, and he led the militants of the group who were recently defeated in battles in the Middle Shabelle region.
The statement added that government forces had apprehended other al-Shabaab members during the week-long operation in the country's Middle Shabelle region.
"The National Army captured eight Khawarij who tried to hide in the forest after the heavy defeat of the Khawarij in the fight with the National Army and the local people in Hirshabelle." press release.
According to government sources, Said Rage, a traditional elder within al Shabab and a member of the group surrendered to government forces in Hirshabelle a day ago.
The Somali National Army enthusiastically welcomed the defectors, and those who rejected Kharijite doctrine and their aberrant behaviour would be cared for. The Somali government is dedicated to pursuing justice." According to the announcement,
The government still needs to release the names of the three other defectors. Other sources claim that the group's transportation coordinator, Abdi Hassan Ibrahim, who has been a member of the group for six years, surrendered to the government and local forces based in the Tarashante area, 27 kilometres from Beledweyne town.
The commander of the 5th battalion of the 27th division of the Somali National Army, Mohamud Hassan Ibrahim Baakay, who confirmed Abdi's defects to the media, urged those still fighting for the al-Shabaab group to surrender.
The defector, Abdi Hassan Ibrahim, who gave a brief speech, thanked the government forces, said they were warmly welcomed, and called on his former militant allies to defect.
The defector, Abdi Hassan Ibrahim, who gave a brief speech, thanked the government forces for the warmly welcomed and called his friends to defect from the group.
The Somali National Army (SNA) said on Monday that 150 al-Shabab militants - including senior leaders - were killed after a week-long operation in the country's Middle Shabelle area.
Al-Shabab militants reportedly sustained significant losses close to Aden Yabal, which used to be the organization's stronghold, before government forces allied with clan militia pushed them out of the area.