Jowhar (Sunatimes) Al-shabab insurgents have on Thursday morning started forcefully recruiting youths in Jowhar district of the middle Shabele region to join the fighting in Mogadishu.

The militants were seen moving around the markets and roads forcing the youths to join their fighters in Mogadishu.

The insurgents brought the body of a soldier they claimed was one of the African Union peace keepers to convince the youths that they were fighting foreigners invading the country.

However, most of the youths are reported to have ran away to avoid being recruited forcefully by Al-shabab. Some of them were hiding in the farms located at the out skirts of Jowhar town.

Al-shabab militias lost ground to government and AU peace keepers yesterday in Mogadishu.

By Fadumo Farah