Somalia: Al Shabaab puts captured major on display

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AFGOOYE, Somalia, October 11, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Somalia’s Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab group has put on display a military commander said to be a major in Somali National Army (SNA) according to photos posted on pro-militant website, Garowe Online reports.

Uniformed Major Mohamed Haji Ali’s photos went on viral, a few hours after Al Shabaab said; it is holding him in undisclosed vicinity in southern Somalia.

He was captured along with his car after Al Shabaab fighters raided his home in the outskirts of Afgooye, a town near Mogadishu and rich in agriculture.

“My name is Mohamed Haji Ali. I am Army major [and] member of Somali National Army (SNA); also I worked with former Somali governments including Siyad Barre regime,” he said in a voice broadcast on Al Shabaab-owned radio station.

Garowe Online couldn’t verify the authenticity of audio recording.

As majors are known for commanding units seizing 300 to 1200 soldiers, he noted that he was in charge of close to 500 troops.

Defence Ministry and Somali Army Chief have not commented on the alleged capture of military commander.

GAROWE ONLINE 

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