Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has issued a general amnesty to members of the Al-Shabaab group, calling on misguided youth within its ranks to surrender and peacefully reintegrate into Somali society.
The Somali president has urged Al-Shabaab fighters to completely abandon their extremist ideology and return to their homes and families.
The president has pledged that the Federal Government of Somalia will guarantee that anyone who voluntarily leaves the group will receive a full amnesty and security.
The president’s decision comes as the government says it is conducting operations against Al-Shabaab in the country. Intelligence reports confirm that the group is facing severe internal financial difficulties, which has forced its leadership to cut salaries for its fighters, the government said.
The federal government said it sees the amnesty as a strategic move that provides an immediate opportunity for disillusioned members to leave.
It described it as a plan to accelerate the defection of many members from Al-Shabaab, in order to weaken its operational capacity without firing a shot.
