MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Former governor of central Somalia’s Hiran region and current liaison head for the government-aligned Mawisley militias, Ali Jayte, has sparked outrage after declaring that civilians in areas controlled by Al-Shabaab will be considered part of the extremist group.
Speaking alongside top army officials and the director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency, Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Sanbalolshe, Jayte claimed that those living under Al-Shabaab’s control are not civilians but complicit members of the group. He questioned why government forces, including himself and his militia, could not access territories under Al-Shabaab’s control, arguing that the insurgents deny them entry.
“May Allah punish anyone who spares them,” Jayte added, referring to civilians in these areas. His inflammatory statement appears to legitimize the indiscriminate killing of innocent people, fueling concerns over the potential escalation of violence against civilian population.
The remarks, which were met with silence by the officials present, are widely seen as an endorsement of mass civilian casualties and have drawn sharp criticism. Analysts warn that such rhetoric could inadvertently strengthen Al-Shabaab’s narrative, portraying itself as a protector against what it calls the “invading forces” and their local collaborators.
This is not the first time Jayte has made controversial statements. Previously, he offered money to anyone who could bring him the severed testicles of an Al-Shabaab fighter. His words led to the brutal mutilation of two young men by armed militias in a government-controlled area in Hiran region, underscoring the dangerous consequences of his rhetoric.
The government’s failure to condemn or distance itself from Jayte’s remarks raises further concerns about the growing climate of impunity and the potential for increasing violence against civilians in the ongoing conflict.
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