Former Al-Shabaab deputy leader surrenders in Somalia

Former Al-Shabaab deputy leader Mukhtar Robow on Sunday defected to the Somalia security forces following a bitter fight with militants in Abal location, an official said.

Officials said Robow, who is from the large Rahanweyn clan, which dominates many of Somalia's most fertile areas, arrived in government-controlled town of Hudur in Somalia' southwest State forces earlier in the day, Xinhua news agency reported.

Confirming the news, Minister of Internal Security Hassan Hussein Mohamed said: "Al-Shabaab militants wanted to kill Robow but we gave him military help and repulsed the Al-Shabaab fighters. Robow is now in Hudur town with southwest State officials."

Robow's surrender comes after weeks of deadly fighting between Al-Shabaab militants and his militia backed by Somalian security forces.

He left the militant group in 2013 and retreated to his homeland over a disagreement on using foreign fighters in the group.

Before his disagreement with the group, Robow was declared wanted terrorist by the US in June 2012 with a $5 million bounty placed on his head.

Analysts say his defection is a big blow to Al-Shabaab, due to which it will certainly lose all South of Somalia due to Robow's influence there.

--IANS

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