Mogadishu (Sunatimes) Al-Shabaab militant group in Baidoa town, Bay region has on Monday night ordered elders in the district to participate the war against government troops in the region.

Speaking at Arab Mosque in Baidoa, Bay and Bakol regional rebel leader Mahad Omar Abdikarin said it is obligatory for area elders to support his rebel group in order to fight the Somali government troops in parts of these regions.

He said they will soon commence trainings for new recruits including elderly men and young boys in order to give the necessary military trainings needed for them to join the group’s battle with government.

Some elders have reportedly fled the district in fear of forceful conscription.

Earlier this month, Al-Shabaab rebel group in the port city of Kismayo has reportedly recruited students and teachers from all schools in the city.

The rebel group compelled all schools in the city to bring students and teachers to serve its ranks and take part in the fight against the Somali government troops in the region.

Some of the parents whose children were recruited into the militia expressed their disapproval, saying that they are powerless and cannot face the militia group to get back their children.

In October this year, rebel leaders in Gedo region ordered young shoe shiners to register with them and take part in the fight against government troops in parts of Southern Somalia, forcing shoe shiners, mainly young boys, to stay off their work places for fear of conscription.

The group also compelled locals in Baidoa to join their militias in lower Juba to hunker down for battle with advancing Kenyan and government troops.

Al-Shabaab is locked in fighting with the Somali government backed by African Union forces in Mogadishu and the Kenyan troops that crossed into parts of the country earlier in October.