Over 100 Al-Shabaab militants defect as Somali forces up pressure against group

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Over 100 Al-Shabaab militants have defected to the government side following an amnesty offer and increasing offensives by the Somali Security Forces.

National Counter-Terrorism Centre director Abdullahi Nor told journalists in Mogadishu Thursday that the amnesty offer and the government-led operations have exerted pressure on Al-Shabaab resulting in the defection of 107 militants.

The Counter-Terrorism Centre announced an amnesty offer on August 22 but did not set timelines. Analysts said the offer was a move by thegovernment to provide exit avenues for Al-Shabaab militants who were facing increasing pressure from the government with the net effect of weakening the terrorist group structure.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is currently leading the war efforts in central parts of the country.