MOGADISHU (Mareeg)—A prominent commander from al Shabaab has defected to the Somali government and has been welcomed in the presidential palace, officials said on Monday.

The commander, named Sheik Mohamed Sheik Abdullahi, better knows as Pakistan has defected from al Shabaab and joined to the government.

A welcoming ceremony has been held in the office of the Somali prime minister in the presidential palace.

Sheik Abdirahin Isse Adow, a former Islamic Courts Union spokesman who joined the government, addressed in the ceremony and welcomed the commander who defected from al Shabaab.

Abdirahman Ibbi, the deputy and acting prime minister said they were very glad the commander who joined to them and called for the other young teenagers to leave from al Shabaab and work for their nation.

Sheik Mohamed Pakistan the former Shabaab commander said he deiced to leave al Shabaab and work with the Somalia government.

He said that “al Shabaab lied about the principals of the Islamic religion” and was committing actions against the Islamic religion.

Sheik Ali Mohamed Hussein, an official from al Shabaab denied that the commander was among their commanders.

Mareeg Online