Mogadishu (Sunatimes) The Transitional Federal Government has warned the Somali youths in the Juba regions not to participate in the ongoing clashes in Southern Somalia.

Deputy Minister for sports and youth affairs in the TFG, Abdirashid Hidig urged youths in the Juba regions not to take part in the ongoing clashes. Hidig said the youths should reject the ideologies of Al-shabab who are misusing them.

The deputy minister said that Al-shabab has opened militia training and collection center in Qoqani and Dobley districts where the militias are bringing together hundreds of youths to be prepared for the fighting.

Al-shabab militants have already started forcefully recruiting youths in the Middle and Lower Juba regions of the country. The militants are battling it out with militias of another group known as ”the Raskamboni wing” in the Juba regions.

The two sides yesterday had a fierce clash in Dif district. Al-shabab militants lost the control of Dif to the Raskamboni group.

By Faduma Farah