Former al-Shabaab leader runs for office in Somalia , Mukhtar Robow, who led one of Africa’s deadliest terrorist groups, hopes to be regional president

A former senior commander of the East African terrorist group al-Shabaab has launched a campaign to become a regional president in SomaliaMukhtar Robow, also known as Abu Mansour, was the target of a $5 million US bounty before he defected from the Islamist group in 2013 and surrendered to the Somali government last year.

He now hopes to secure enough votes in next month’s election to govern the Southwest region of the east African nation.

Robow, who is still under US sanctions, was the co-founder, spokesperson and deputy leader of al-Shabaab, the al-Qaeda linked terrorist group which has been responsible for thousands of deaths in Somalia and neighbouring nations since 2007.

The New York Times describes him as an “elusive, charismatic militant”, who “seemed more moderate than many of his comrades, and enjoyed sitting for interviews with Western reporters and speaking of his dream to turn Somalia around”.

Since giving himself up to Somali authorities last year, he has publicly denounced the terror group and urged militants to put down their weapons.

 

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