Somali president calls on al Shabaab to surrender

Somalia’s new president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, during his inaugurated on Wednesday in the capital, Magadishu promised his people that the era of al Shabaab and other Islamist militant groups was over.

Mohamed, a dual U.S.-Somali citizen, called on al Shabaab’s thousands of fighters to surrender, promising them “a good life” if they did. “I tell those misguided people, they should come back to their country as we are ready to give them the support they need to integrate within the community, to work and have a peaceful existence,” he said.

He also called on those who work with Al Qaeda, al Shabaab and IS (Islamic State), to surrender because their time is over.

“If you reject to surrender, then know that, from today, you will not be able to stand before the united 12 million Somalis. You killed many innocent Somalis and destroyed their wealth’” Mohamed added.

Somalia has been in turmoil since 1991, hit by decades of conflict at the hands of clan militias.

Over the past several years the east African country has faced an insurgency by al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab, which the government is battling with the help of regional troops.

On Sunday a suicide bomb in a crowded market in the capital Mogadishu killed dozens of people.

the new president also faces a security situation and challenges of cutting down on corruption in the country.