(20-10-23) BAIDOA — Fourteen members of the militant group Al-Shabaab surrendered to security agencies in Baidoa, according to an announcement by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) on Friday. Officials say this could mark the beginning of a new phase in the fight against Al-Shabaab.
The group that surrendered reportedly belonged to a brigade responsible for direct attacks on government and African Union Transition Mission to Somalia (ATMIS) forces. During questioning, the fighters said they faced mounting pressure, a difficult life, and great fear within the Al-Shabaab group, leading them to abandon the cause.
The Ministry of Defence cited successful government operations as the reason for the surrender. It urged other members of Al-Shabaab to follow suit and laid down their arms.
In a related development, Ismail Adan Mohamed, who was responsible for tax collection for Al-Shabaab, also surrendered to government forces on Friday in Mudug Region. Mohamed had played a key role in the group’s activities in the recently liberated village of Bacadweyne.
He was captured near Qoriley, close to Bacadweyne in the south of Mudug Region, by a combined force of the 21st Division of the Somali Armed Forces and the Galmudug dervishes. According to officers involved in the operation, Mohamed was on his way to surrender when he was apprehended.
This series of surrenders could have broader implications for the fight against Al-Shabaab in Somalia. It not only weakens the operational capacity of the group but also could serve as a catalyst for further defections.
Despite the promising developments, authorities remain cautious. Investigations are underway to verify the genuineness of the surrenders and to better understand the fighters’ motivations.
Halqabsi News
