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Al-Shabab defector ‘given $15,000 reward’
10:16 CAT | 13 Apr 2018
The militants are also known to give money to entice government soldiers to defect. AFP
Somalia’s south-western regional administration has given $15,000 (£10,000) to an al-Shabab defector, local media reports.
He was reportedly an official in the Islamist militant group and came over to the government’s side in January.
He arrived in the regional capital Baidao in a combat vehicle with a machine-gun mounted on the back, handing over the vehicle to the authorities.
Al-Shabab often rewards government soldiers who defect to the militants’ ranks by giving money equivalent to the price of their guns.
During celebrations yesterday to mark the 58th anniversary of Somalia’s national army, President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo reiterated his offer of an amnesty to those fighting for al-Shabab if they surrendered.
He first declared the amnesty after his election last year and since then many al-Shabab fighters, some of whom were senior commanders, have surrendered.
Source: BBC
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