The government of the semiautonomous state of Galmudug has expelled several clan elders who met with members of the Al-Shabaab militia.
Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, the state’s Minister of Security, made this announcement today in a statement released to the press.
He said the elders who met the militants would be deterred from returning to and joining the local administration.
Fiqi said information reaching the government indicates the elders discouraged the extremists from surrendering their weapons.
Last year, the Federal Government of Somalia encouraged members of the Al-Qaeda linked group to surrender in exchange for amnesty.