MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s Minister of Interior Ahmed Moalim Fiqi sent a rare request to the Al-Qaeda-aligned militant group Al-Shabaab urging its leadership to allow relief organizations to operate inside the territory under its control.
Speaking on Friday, Fiqi called on Al-Shabaab not to undermine operations aimed at distributing food aid to the people affected by drought and water shortages in areas under its control.
“I urge Al-Shabaab not to disrupt aid meant for people under its control,” Somali Interior Minister said. “ Al-Shabaab, of-course, are Somalis who come from this troubled nation [and] let my message reach them.”
The armed Islamist group had earlier banned operations of international relief organizations, accusing them of espionage and christianization activities. Over the past months, the group released images of its leaders distributing food to drought-affected communities in regions across south and central Somalia.
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