Somalia's security agency on Monday displayed more than 50 al-Shabaab fighters, mainly youths between 8 and 20 years old, who surrendered to Somali forces in Mogadishu.
Ibrahim Omar Aden, the spokesman of Somali security agency (CID), confirmed the young men surrendered to the government within the last three days and that they will be taken to a rehabilitation center.
“In the last three days we have received 51 young boys who were al-Shabaab fighters. We welcomed them with open arms because they are our generation,” Ibrami said.
The fighters complained of lack of food and forced marriages during their time with the Islamic militants.
“We belonged to al-Shabaab for three years. I joined in 2008 as part of the the particular group of assassination (Amniyad). I operated in many parts of the country, but recently I was in Mogadishu,” said Mohamed Ali Id, one of the youths who surrendered.
“We decided to give up because we have experienced many problems. Our leaders of al-Shabaab want us each to marry at least four women. Also, we didn't get any food when we were at the frontlines," he added.
This is the largest number of al-Shabaab fighters to surrender to the Somali government within a week.
This is the end of alshabab.
No wonder they left. But still I am glad they left. That is good news. 