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an Islamic infestation centering on Somalia...holy warriors including top commanders surrendered to the Somali government on Thursday, officials said.
Ugaas Hassan, the Information Minister for the Southwest State in Somalia, confirmed to Xinhua that the holy warriors agreed to lay down arms and surrender to Somali National Army and Southwest State forces in Berdale town.
"Four al-Shabaab fighters including the deputy commander of the group in the Bay region surrendered to the officials of the Somalia National Army (SNA) and Southwest state in Somalia in Berdale town, these holy warriors decided to denounce the wrong ideology of the terrorist group al-Shabaab," said Hassan.
The joint forces, including the SNA and African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
troops, have intensified military operations against al-Shabaab holy warriors in the recent past while some holy warriors are either escaping or leaving from the group now.
"Military operations are going on in the region now, and we are welcoming anyone who is in the terrorist group to accept grinding of the peace processor," Hassan said.
The latest development came against a backdrop of factional wars within the al-Qaeda linked terrorist network that has intensified this year.