Three Al-Shabaab militants defected to government troops that were undertaking a military operation in the Hiiraan region on Tuesday.
The militants surrendered to the Somali National Army (SNA) in an area where the military has been conducting operations against the terrorist group.
Defections like these are significant as they reflect ongoing efforts by the Somali government to encourage militants to abandon Al-Shabaab and reintegrate into society.
The government often provides amnesty and rehabilitation programs to those who defect, aiming to weaken the group’s influence and reduce violence in the region.