Four Al-Shabaab Fighters Surrender in Somalia, Citing Relentless Airstrikes

GOOBJOOG NEWS | BAIDOA: Four Al-Shabaab militants have surrendered to security forces in Somalia’s Southwest State, saying they could no longer endure relentless airstrikes targeting the group, regional officials said on Wednesday.

The fighters turned themselves in to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Baidoa after operating in the Bay, Bakool, and Lower Jubba regions, police said.

“We could no longer endure the constant airstrikes. Many of our friends died. We knew it was only a matter of time before we were next,” one of the defectors said.

The Somali government, with backing from international partners, including the United States, has intensified air and ground operations against Al-Shabaab, targeting key leadership figures and operational cells.

Southwest State officials said the defectors would enter a regional rehabilitation program designed to help former militants reintegrate into society. The initiative includes counseling, vocational training, and support services as part of a broader strategy to undercut Al-Shabaab’s recruitment pipeline.

Authorities urged other militants to surrender and take advantage of the government’s amnesty and reintegration efforts, emphasizing that Somalia’s security forces would continue to escalate pressure on the group.