Mogadishu (Sunatimes)  A committee of elders, recently teamed-up by the Al-Shabaab militia from Beledweyne town has arrived in Hes area, 62 Kilometers East of Beledweyne town, on a peace mission aimed at persuading local elders in the area to stop fighting the Al-Shabaab militia.

Immediately their arrival, the elders held talks with their counterparts in Hes area and urged them to refrain from fighting the Al-Shabaab militia but the host elders did not agreed.

The area elders said the militia has been oppressing locals in the area, citing several incidents including Al-Shabaab’s recent beheading of elders and youths in the area with no apparent reasons and the demolition of their water reservoirs.

The elders vowed not to negotiate with the militia, whom they accused of harassing residents in the area.