Somalia’s Al-Shabaab forcibly recruits 300 children

[Deeq A.]

NAIROBI (Caasimada Online)–The Islamist group Al-Shabaab has allegedly recruited at least 300 boys aged between 9 to 16 years old in south of Somalia.

The group has gathered hundreds of children for indoctrination after asking local communities in Lower Shabelle region to identify at least 2,500 more children within 30 days, sources said.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the Islamist group in Somalia are luring hundreds of children for recruitment into the group fighting against Somali government backed by African Union troops.

There was no immediate response from Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab group over the allegation.

The Rights group said the recruitment started in mid-2017 and has so far gathered thousands of children for indoctrination after terrorizing elders and teachers in Islamic religious schools.

The militant group has been wreaking havoc in the Horn of Africa region.

Laetitia Bader, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch called on Al-Shabab to stop the recruitment of children.

Bader said that the government or other actors in charge on the ground should take measures to curb the militants’ operations.

Caasimada Online
Nairobi News Desk
Caasimada@live.com