A militant makes a surprise move; surrendering in Somalia 

Speaking to Keydmedia Online’s Mogadishu bureau, Capt. Mohamed Hassan, a Somali police officer said Hudeyfa made phone contacts with authorities before his defection to the government side.

News Keydmedia Online
26 July 2021

MOGADISHU, Somalia – A long-serving Al-Shabaab operative has made a surprise move after deserting the terror group and surrendering himself to authorities in southern Somalia on Monday.

The militant - Abdirizak Abdullahi Mohamud (Hudeyfa) who has been a member of Al-Shabaab for six years and has been involved in several battles and attacks was paraded in Garbaharey, Gedo regional capital.

Speaking to Keydmedia Online’s Mogadishu bureau, Capt. Mohamed Hassan, a Somali police officer said Hudeyfa made phone contacts with authorities before his defection to the government side.

According to Hassan, the Al-Shabaab defector has denounced the group’s terrorist ideology and expressed interest in being rehabilitated and eventually lead normal lives with his people.

Garbaharey police commanders said that they have welcomed the man who left Al-Shabaab and will hand him over to other security branches of the government of Somalia in Mogadishu for his rehabilitation.

They called on other members still remained in the Al-Shabaab ranks to leave the group and join their former fellow militants benefiting from the amnesty of the Somali government to surrender.

This comes amid stepped-up military operations in parts of south and central Somalia against Al-Shabaab ahead of the country’s parliamentary and presidential elections this year.

The Al-Qaeda-affiliated group lost key areas in the Mudug region, including Ba'adweyne and Amara to Somali troops backed by Galmudug regional soldiers who are conducting joint operations with US air support to annihilate the militants. 

KEYDMEDIA English