However, all of these considerations neglect the feelings and daily lives of people who live under al-shabab. I think they are the bigger evil and they must not be allowed to use the Kenyan invasion for support. They offer no hope for Somalis and are just prolonging the suffering of the people who live under them. Wallahi they those at the top of AS could care less about Somalis and see us as just resource to be exploited in the 'jihad' whether through extortion or youngsters as cannon fodder.
Below are some quotes I have come across only the past two days:
Residents who spoke to Somalia Report expressed optimism saying that the extremist group would eventually be wiped out.
Ali Farah, one of the locals from Busar village told Somalia Report that the al-Shabaab has committed unacceptable crimes in the region. He said they with the TFG forces taking over the region from the Islamist group, life was slowly but surely returning to normalcy.
“The al-Shabaab used to detain young people, especially students and women allegedly for refusing to take part in what they called 'Jihad' (Holy war)," said Farah
Al-Shabaab insurgents today closed the main seaport of Kismayo in Lower Juba region due to the threat of more airstrikes, according to residents.
As of 12:30am on Saturday (local time), no ships were being allowed to enter or leave the seaport.
"The port is closed and many people are fleeing. Everyone is expecting and praying the government troops will arrive here and kick out al-Shabaab. We are praying to Allah that we will be free al-Shabaab," a resident who asked to be called Muse told Somalia Report. This comes after senior al-Shabaab officer, Mukhtar Robow (Abu Mansour), warned of Kenya of the consequences if the port is closed, cutting off one of their major revenue streams.
"If the Kismayo port is closed because of Kenyan airstrikes, we will go to their banks to loot their property and wealth," he vowed to local media yesterday.
''The port is not functioning now and those of us that are laborer and porters are worried about our jobs," said a porter who spoke to Somalia Report on the condition of anonymity.
In May of this year, al-Shabaab was forcing port laborers to quick work and fight on their behalf against the government.
Inshallah they will be defeated and won't stay in Somalia for much longer.The militant group al-Shabaab has embarked on a new recruitment exercise aimed at enlisting new fighters in Hiran region, Somalia Report has reliably learned.
The move comes in the wake of Kenya's military action in war torn Somalia in a bid to weed out the Islamist group from its controlled areas in southern Somalia.
According to reliable sources, the militant group has enlisted at least 300 new fighters, including women, over the last two days.
“Our aim is to fight Kenyan and other African soldiers. We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the Mujahedeen group,” Umul Kheyra, a newly-recruited female fighter told Somalia Report.
......But the militant al-Shabaab has repeatedly warned Kenyan authorities that the East Africa's leading economy will face deadly retaliatory attacks from its fighters if Kenya continues with its military operation in Lower Jubba and other regions where the group holds a tight grip.
“I lost my brother while he was fighting against Ethiopian soldiers in 2008 and I am now ready to fight with Kenyans because as we are Mujahedeen’s we can’t accept Kenyan intervention,” said Mohamed Ali, a 22 year-old self-professed member of the al-Shabaab.
According to local elders, some 80 youths aged between 12 and 15 years have been sent to training camps at Belet-weyne over the past two days.
The new recruitment drive comes amid weeks of fighting against the al-Shabaab in Lower Juba region and its surrounding areas.