A leader named Ali Mohamed Olow, armed with an AK-47 rifle and his bag, surrendered to the Somali National Army in Mubarak, Lower Shabelle region, after escaping attacks by government forces on positions held by Al-Shabaab fighters in the Ugunji area.
The man who surrendered to the forces said that he had been fighting in Hiran, Lower Shabelle and Middle Shabelle regions for a while while he was a member of Al-Shabaab, noting that he was recently deployed to Ugunji as a reinforcement.
He indicated that the constant attacks by the National Army on Al-Shabaab hideouts created fear and a difficult situation for him, which ultimately forced him to surrender to government forces.
The leader also said that the life and activities of the group were becoming increasingly difficult, especially after the operations and bombings targeting Al-Shabaab centers and fighters in southern and central Somalia.
The Somali Federal Government forces have recently increased operations against Al-Shabaab, with security officials saying that many members of the group are surrendering to the forces.
