MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Government of Somalia has reported a large number of defections from Al-Shabaab as war on the militant group has intensified in central regions.
The director of the National Center for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism [Tubsan] Abdullahi Mohamed Nor, said that in the past two months, there has been a significant rise in the number of Al-Shabaab members surrendering to the government.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the director said more than 107 members including leaders and minors gave up themselves to the government, willing to re-join their people.
He added that the militants have surrendered in different areas including Galmudug, Hirshabeelle, Southwest, and Jubaland and they are now being transferred to rehab center.
The director of Tubsan called on the members of Al-Shabaab to still have opportunities to surrender to the government of Somalia since they have an amnesty by the president of the federal government, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
In August 2022, Mohamud launched a “total war” against al-Shabaab. In the first phase, Somali forces concentrated on the central regions of Hirshabelle and Galmudug, supporting local clans that were rebelling against al-Shabaab.
The terrorist group had seen public support deteriorate in those areas after it raised taxes on residents to make up for losses incurred from an economic downturn and natural disasters, disregarding the effects of the policy on people’s livelihoods.
The first stage was the most effective offensive since 2016, expelling al-Shabaab from areas it had controlled for over a decade, and in March 2023 the government launched phase two to attack al-Shabaab in the south.
However, concerns remain about Somalia’s ability to hold the areas it has cleared and take more territory given the planned drawdown of foreign troops and the fact that southern clans have not shown the same propensity to turn on al-Shabaab.
