Mogadishu (Sunatimes) Al Shaabab fighters who have recently taken control of Celesha Biyaha neighborhood in the Somali capital Mogadishu from Hizbul-Islam are urging the youth in the area to join their militia.

Some of those youth were arrested by the militias yesterday for smoking cigarettes and chewing Khat. Over fifty young men were released but on condition of joining the militia group’s fighters.

Shabaab fighters were seen engaging in a public awareness campaign to inform the residents about the ban of the widely used drug on Thursday. The fighters warned that any one seen smoking and chewing Khat in the roads will be dealt with severely.

The insurgents also ordered female students attending different schools and colleges in Elesha Biyaha area to wear heavy clothes including head scarves. They also banned them from wearing attractive dresses.

Elesha Biyaha area which is located at the neighborhood of Mogadishu is home to thousands of displaced families from the capital.

Radio Bar Kulan