Two senior commanders surrendered themselves to Somali government authorities in Baidoa town on Monday denouncing their militant group.
According to militant rehabilitation facilitator in Southwest State, Hassan Hussein Mohamed aka Hassan Elay, the two commanders from Al-Shabaab will be undergo rehabilitation process after which they be integrated back into the society.
The facilitator welcomed the bold step by the militant commanders’ saying he hoped their defection will influence others to denounce the Al-Shabaab radical ideology and embrace peace in Somalia.
The two commanders were in charge of zakat collection (Islamic levy on wealth) in Baidoa.
Mohamed who is also the disarmament minister of Southwest noted that the government is ready to receive Al-Shabaab members who denounce violence and surrenders but also noted that the ones who insist on staying in terror camps will surely be eliminated.
The surrender of the two Al-Shabaab commanders in Baidoa becomes the first since the election of the new President of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo by lawmakers in February 8.
