Al Shabaab Fighters, Top Commander Surrenders to Somali Government

Key Highlights

• Growing number of Al Shabaab fighters continues surrendering and giving up their arms to the Somali government.
• 18th August 2015, A group of Al Shabaab fighters accompanied by a group commander reportedly surrendered in Bardheere to the government forces.
• The government of Somalia continues to welcome more militant’s change of guard in defiance to group which has continued to attack civilians across the country and especially Somali’s capital Mogadishu.

Analysis

According to Colonel Jama’a Muse, a high ranking government officer in the town of Bardheere, the latest group was part of a growing number of former Al Shabaab fighters that are increasingly accepting government absolute amnesty offer.

While addressing the local media, Mr. Jama’a added that the fighters who have surrendered have been accorded full amnesty and are their custody for debriefing session.

This latest surrender of Al Shabaab fighters comes barely a week after a senior member charged with Zakat collection (Levy) in the Bokol region defected and sought amnesty in the government forces based in Gedo region.
The three fighters together with one amir (commander) also gave up their arms to lead a normal life.

Forecast

Government amnesty offer to Al Shabaab fighters is working citing the growing defection as a clear sign how the group has been incapacitated, losing both territories and fighters simultaneously.

The reports of the growing defections come at the wake of intensified AMISOM operations against the militant group Al Shabaab in an effort to root them out from the remaining areas in the country.