In a new policy supported by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government, Somalia is endorsing the use of vigilantes to help weed out al Shabaab militia from villages.
It is an additional step to the non-violent dissuasion of al Shabaab sympathisers, including by roping in returnees into formal government.
In July, Prime Minister Hamza Barre named Mukhtar Abu Mansur as Minister for Religion. Mr Mansur is a former al Shabaab leader who fled the group and was detained under house arrest, and later freed.
Officials say local militia can tap into the acrimony of those already harmed by al Shabaab, and go after those who don’t want to surrender.
“We came up with a new strategy that is based on two things – ideological war front and cutting al Shabaab’s economic lifeline,” President Mohamud said, adding the militia had avoided military operations by changing tactics.
President Mohamud was speaking at a public lecture at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies last week, while on a tour of the US.
Later, at a speech to the diaspora, he said authorities are supporting the militia.
“Once they could not tolerate the intimidation, the extortion and the abduction of their children, some local clans say they have started fighting al Shabaab. We want to support our people to live in peace and dignity,” the president said.
