Mogadishu (Sunatimes) Al-Shabaab militia group is reportedly seeking young fighters from local clans in Middle Shabelle to counter the allied forces in parts of Lower Juba, reports say.

The newly appointed area rebel leader Yussuf Kaba-kutukade is said to have been meeting area clan leaders in effort to woo material support and fighters for the group.

Reliable sources told Bar-kulan that clan leaders turned down his request. After the group failed to get the requested support, it has opted to threatened clan leaders that they will be dealt with, according to the sources.

In the last few months Al-Shabaab leaders have been trying all means possible including issuing threats to elders in order to get clans support.

Just last Wednesday leaders in Juba regions of southern Somalia asked traditional elders in these regions to contribute weapons and fighters to their militias.

In a close door meeting with over 60 traditional elders from Juba regions, the rebel leaders asked the elders to contribute their youths into the militia group to counter the allied Kenyan and TFG forces in the region.

Hassan Yakub Ali, one of the rebel leaders in the region pleaded with the elders to bring fighters and weapons in order to face the allied forces in the region.

Reports say elders turned down the rebel request, saying that it was a “hard decision” to make since they advocate for peace only.

The call comes days after the most senior leader of Al Shabaab, Hassan Dahir Aweys admitted that his group is facing resistance from clan elders who have refused to release their youth to join the militants.

Aweys told worshippers during Eid prayer in the outskirts of Mogadishu that nearly all clans are beginning to shift allegiance to the TFG, which, with the support of troops from the Africa Mission in Somalia (Amisom) has exploited this to the full and controls 98 per cent of the capital for the first time since 2007.

By Fadumo Farah