The co-founder and former spokesperson for al-Shabab has been underneath home arrest since 2018.
Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has named the nation’s new cupboard, selecting former al-Shabab spokesperson Muktar Robow as a minister, a transfer that would both assist strengthen the struggle towards the insurgency or provoke clan clashes.
In televised remarks on Tuesday, Barre stated Robow, who as soon as had a $5m United States bounty on his head earlier than he break up from al-Shabab in 2013, would serve as the minister answerable for religion.
“After much deliberation with the president and the public, I have named cabinet ministers who have education and experience and they will fulfil their duties,” Barre stated earlier than asserting the cupboard appointees. “I ask the parliament to approve the cabinet.”
Robow, who has been underneath home arrest for the final three years, additionally used to serve as a deputy chief of al-Shabab, the al-Qaeda-linked armed group.
In December 2018, he was in Somalia’s South West State whereas campaigning for the regional presidency. The protests that adopted had been quashed with lethal drive, with safety forces capturing at the very least 11 individuals.
Make or mar
Some analysts have speculated that Robow, who has lengthy denounced al-Shabab, might assist strengthen authorities forces in his native Bakool area, the place the group holds substantial quantities of territory.
New President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, elected by lawmakers in May, has promised to take the struggle to the armed teams after three years during which his predecessor, consumed by political infighting, took little motion towards al-Shabab.
The group incessantly assaults civilians and authorities officers and installations.
In February, it attacked election delegates within the capital, Mogadishu. The delegates had been unhurt however six bystanders had been killed.
That allowed the group to construct up substantial reserves of money and perform assaults over a large swathe of the nation.
This new cupboard, nominated almost 40 days after new Prime Minister Barre took workplace, will want the approval of the Somali parliament.
