Somalia offers amnesty to extremist group fighters

OFFER COMES AFTER A US AIR STRIKE TARGETED MILITANT LEADER WHOSE FATE REMAINS UNCLEAR

Somalia’s government is offering amnesty to fighters with the Islamic extremist group Al Shabab. The government said in a statement following a Cabinetlevel security meeting that it is giving Al Shabab militants up to 45 days to take up the offer.

Somali Security Minister Khalif Ahmad Ereg said the government “will create a better livelihood to build their future for those who meet the deadline.”

The offer of amnesty comes after a US airstrike that targeted Al Shabab leader Ahmad Abdi Godane, whose fate remains unclear.

And Somali forces, backed by African Union troops, last week launched an offensive on Al Shabab’s last strongholds in southern Somalia.

Al Shabab is believed to have thousands of fighters in its ranks, fighting to impose Sharia law on Somalia.

Meanwhile, security sources said the death of the leader of Al Shabab in the US air strike is a “very strong probability,” but still remains unconfirmed.

According to a Western security source, who asked not be identified, there was “a very strong probability that he is dead.” “This requires verification on the ground, which is not simple,” the source said.

Refused to confirm

A senior Somali security official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said he believed the Al Shabab were now “talking about a successor” to Godane.

“We believe that the [ Al] Shabab leader is dead, though we don’t have his body. Most probably he is dead,” said the official, while cautioning that “we are still assessing the situation.”

Contacted by AFP, Al Shabab officials maintained their position of refusing to confirm or deny the reports.

The Al Shabab

are

fighting to topple Somalia’s internationallybacked government. Godane, 37, reportedly trained in Afghanistan with the Taliban and took over the leadership of the Al Shabab in 2008 after then chief Adan Hashi Ayro was killed by a US missile strike. US authorities have offered a $ 7 million ( Dh25.7 million) reward for information on Godane, similar to the bounty on Nigeria’s Boko Haram leader.