Al Shabab, a militant group, has been exploiting vulnerable individuals to carry out its violent activities. The Somali government must adopt counter-offensive measures to protect these individuals. After losing control over urban areas and their ability to conduct assassinations, Al Shabab started coercing vulnerable people into performing their dirty work. They target young and impoverished individuals from rural areas, bringing them to Mogadishu to terrorize the population.
Tragically, Al Shabab recruits children as young as 15 or 16 years old, providing them only with food in exchange for committing violent acts. However, the Mogadishu police force remains vigilant. It is aware of Al Shabab’s tactics of using poor and marginalized individuals for their criminal activities.
One such example is Farhan Mohamed Abdi Nur, a young man from a rural area in the Southwest State who came to Mogadishu seeking a better life for his family. Al Shabab offered him a meager monthly salary of $100 to assassinate security personnel.
The Somali government, in collaboration with international partners, should allocate funding to protect individuals like Farhan. One practical approach would be to offer rewards for credible information related to Al Shabab. For instance, the government could promise a matching salary to anyone working for Al Shabab who provides valuable intelligence. This initiative could be extended to military, police, NISA, and correctional officers, ensuring they receive a monthly salary as an incentive.
Implementing a national program to attract young people away from Al Shabab by offering them financial stability could significantly reduce the group’s recruitment efforts. By addressing the root causes of vulnerability and providing economic opportunities, the Somali government can protect its citizens and weaken Al Shabab’s influence.