The Somali President described the move as a “second opportunity” for members of the militant movement who wanted to give up their “terrorist” ways and turn themselves in to the government

MOGADISHU, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud on Monday extended by 65 days a promised amnesty for members of the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab movement who wished to surrender.

Speaking at a meeting with a group of army generals and government officials, the Somali president described the move as a “second opportunity” for members of the militant movement who wanted to give up their “terrorist” ways and turn themselves in to the government.

He said a military operation launched by the Somali military in cooperation with African troops against Al-Shabaab since March had made huge gains.

He said his government had recaptured important areas previously controlled by Al-Shabaab, including the port town of Baraawe in the Lower Shebelle Region in southern Somalia.

He said the town had been an important source of income for the Al-Qaeda-linked militants.

Mohamoud called on government troops to redouble efforts to recapture other areas still controlled by Al-Shabaab.

For years, the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab group has been fighting the central government in Mogadishu and African Union-led peacekeeping forces.

A long-troubled country in the Horn of Africa, Somalia has remained in the grip of on-again, off-again violence since the outbreak of civil war in 1991.

Source: Anadolu Agency