Al-Shabaab parades new recruits

The militant group Al-Shabaab, has issued an invitation to individuals who have experienced grievances and injustices to join their ranks, as they showcased a large gathering of new fighters in an undisclosed open space, boldly defying unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs) hovering over Somalia’s airspace.

During the graduation ceremony of the recently trained “Martyrdom-seekers Battalion,” Ali Mohamud Rage (commonly known as Ali Dheere), the spokesperson for Al-Shabaab, delivered a speech.

This development comes as the Somali government soldiers and allied militia faced unprecedented challenges and fatigue in their ongoing military operations against the insurgent group.

Reportedly held this month, the graduation ceremony highlighted recent captures of bases, including Masagawa (Masagaway) and Buulo Mareer from the previous month. Ali Dheere appealed to those who have endured injustices and grievances to join the group’s fight, seeking revenge for their perceived wrongs.

The military training camp where the ceremony took place was named after Rabi’i ibn ‘Amr, who allegedly had a conversation with Sasanian shah Rustum prior to the Battle of Qadisiyya.

During his address, the spokesperson of the militant group pledged to launch new attacks, emphasizing their preparedness for the anticipated withdrawal of African Union (ATMIS) soldiers.

Among the Al-Shabaab men present alongside Ali Dheere was Suldan Al Mohamed (also known as Suldan Al Muhammad or Suldaan Aala Maxamed), a long-standing figure in the zakat tax and humanitarian aid sector, who is reportedly now serving as a senior advisor to Al-Shabaab’s leader, Abu Ubayda Ahmad Umar.

The event witnessed parade by the Al-Shabaab insurgents riding on captured Somali National Army (SNA) vehicles and weapons. It includes vehicles donated by United Arab Emirates to the Jubbaland forces.

Somali government did not immediately comment on the matter.

A recent policy briefing by the Crisis Group underscores the enormous challenges that Somalia still faces. Many experts agree that Al-Shabaab cannot be defeated solely through military means. The deep divisions between the central government in Mogadishu and the federal member states, as well as the fault lines among various factions within the states themselves, pose significant risks and potentially dangerous outcomes.

Source » hornobserver