By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Prime Minister of Somalia, Hamza Abdi Barre has appointed a former al-Shabab spokesperson, Muktar Robow as minister in charge of religious affairs in the new cabinet.
This is seen as a move that could either help strengthen the fight against the insurgency or provoke clan clashes in the country.
Barre announced this on Tuesday in a televised speech.
Robow once had a $5m United States bounty on his head before he split from al-Shabab in 2013.
“After much deliberation with the president and the public, I have named cabinet ministers who have education and experience and they will fulfil their duties,” Barre said before announcing the cabinet appointees. “I ask the parliament to approve the cabinet.”
Robow, who has been under house arrest for the last three years, also used to serve as a deputy leader of al-Shabab, the al-Qaeda-linked armed group.
In December 2018, he was in Somalia’s South West State while campaigning for the regional presidency.
There are speculations that Robow, who has long denounced al-Shabab, could help strengthen government forces in his native Bakool region, where the group holds substantial amounts of territory.
New President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, elected by lawmakers in May, has promised to take the fight to the armed groups after three years in which his predecessor, consumed by political infighting, took little action against al-Shabab.
The terror group frequently attacks civilians and government officials and installations.
In February, it attacked election delegates in the capital, Mogadishu. The delegates were not harmed but six bystanders were killed.
The new cabinet was nominated nearly 40 days after new Prime Minister Barre took office.
Nomination is expected to be submitted to the Somali cabinet for approval.
