Al-Shabaab commanders surrender in Somalia

Members of Somalia's al-Shabab militant group during a demonstration to announce their integration with al-Qaida, in Elasha, Somalia on February 13, 2012. Photo by: REUTERS/Feisal Omar

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Four Al-Shabaab commanders have surrendered to government forces in Somalia, state media confirmed, in the latest wave of victories against the militants which are attributed to ongoing crackdown against the group which controls large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia.

State media reported that Mohamed Ali Hassan alias Moalim Hudeifa, one of the most wanted Al-Shabaab terrorists along with his other three colleagues surrendered to the national army within Middle Shabelle in the HirShabelle state. The state is the epicenter of the operations against the Al-Shabaab.

Intelligence reports indicate that Mohamed Ali Hassan alias Moalim Hudeifa was the commander of the Al-Shabaab militants who were crushed recently during an operation in parts of Middle Shabelle last week. He took advantage of the amnesty given to terrorists by the Somali National Army [SNA].

To effectively win the war, the national army has given room for defections from the group with those taking advantage being rehabilitated before repatriation to the community. Hundreds of the militants have previously made use of the grace period window to defect to the government.

According to the state media, his actions were welcomed by top SNA commanders who insisted that the amnesty is part of the "strategy to completely neutralize Al-Shabaab militants". "The strategy is working well we hope that more of them will use the avenue to reform."

Statistics from the military indicated that dozens of elders who were sympathetic to the group have since changed and defected to the government with senior Al-Shabaab commanders also joining them. The Al-Shabaab militants have lost grip in several parts of the country where they were dominant.

At the same time, the national army arrested eight other militants in Middle Shabelle during an offensive that also saw the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], US Africa Command, and local militia participate. In line with the military doctrines, the apprehended individuals will face trial in the military courts.

On Sunday, a self-proclaimed elder Said Rage, and another militant, both active members of the Khawarij surrendered to the national army, the state media added. The government through President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has announced that it's just a matter of time after HirShabelle and Galmadug are completely liberated from Al-Shabaab.

The president, in an interview with Al-Jazeera, lauded the significant progress made by the army in liberating various parts of the country, noting that "for the first time, we have sustained the war against these criminals". Hassan Sheikh also pledged to invest in ideological tactics to defeat the militants.

GAROWE ONLINE