Prominent Al-Shabab Leader Abandons Group, Submits to Somali Military

Tuesday, August 29, 2023 – The government has reported that a high-ranking member of al-Shabab has defected and surrendered to Somali army forces in north-central Somalia. Nur Abullahi Maalingur, also known as AK Nur Deeq, was the top commander for the group’s fighters in the Mudug region. He was presented to the media in the Wisil district.

According to Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Reconciliation Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, the defector played a significant role in the intense clashes between government forces and militants in the Mudug region. Fiqi stated that Nur Deeq was responsible for coercing businesspeople, traditional elders, and residents into paying extortion money.

In a recent development, the Somali government has offered amnesty to al-Shabab militants amidst an ongoing military offensive in central Somalia. This amnesty offer is a part of the government’s multifaceted approach in its fight against the al-Shabab militant group. The government has been actively deploying its military, targeting the group’s financial networks, and engaging in an ideological battle against them.