MOGADISHU (Somali Update Online) — Somalia's Information Minister, Abdirahman Omar Osman (Eng Yarisow) confirmed the defections of two Al-Shabaab commanders, one in Hiiraan and one in Kismayo, Somalia.
Bishar Farah Mumin defected in Hiiraan last Wednesday and had been a commander in al-Shabaab’s military wing (known as Jabha) in Hiraan, Galgaduud and Mudug regions.
Sheikh Abdullahi Sheikh Abdi defected in Kismayo on Saturday and had been Al-Shabab’s shadow District Commissioner of Jamame in Lower Jubba.
The recent defection of the two mid-rank militant commanders came as government forces and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) preparing to launch fresh military offensive against the Al-Shabab controlled areas in the Shabelle regions.
"Disaffected leaders from different places and who had different roles within Al-Shabaab are defecting from the terrorist group in this Holy Month of Ramadan. So are many, many foot-soldiers.”
The minister of information adds that the Somali Government continue to offer its amnesty to the members of the militant group willing to defect and refrain from its violent behavior.
"The Federal Government of Somalia offers amnesty to anyone trapped inside Al-Shabaab as long as they reject the group’s alien ideology, renounce violence and agree to cooperate in the reconstruction of Somalia.” He said.
As drought affects many parts of the country, Al-Shabab militia in the push have been facing short of food, according to sources, in addition to the growing pressure from the local communities who continue to oppose the group’s restrictive orders against relief operation in the areas the militia controls.
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