An intense military operation carried out by Somali National Army (SNA) troops in the Lower Shabelle region forced a senior Al-Shabaab militant to surrender.
Isma’il Abdi Malik Malin, the Commander of SNA’s 16th Unit that conducted the operation, named the senior Al-Shabaab fighter as Mohamed Abukar.
According to Malin, Abukar had been Al-Shabaab’s leader of finance in Lower Shabelle.
“Following our recent operation in the region, Abukar contacted our forces saying he was ready to abandon Al-Shabaab and join SNA,” Malin said.
Malin confirmed that Abukar is now in the hands of government forces. He expects the ex-militia to be handed over to Somalia’s intelligence authorities in the next few days.