Mogadishu: Former Al-Shabab deputy leader Mukhtar Robow on Sunday defected to the Somalia security forces following a bitter fight with militants in Abal location, an official said.
File photo of armed al-Shabab fighters. AP image
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-Shabab 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-Shabab 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-Shabab, due to which it will certainly lose all South of Somalia due to Robow's influence there.
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