MOGADISHU, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Former Al-Shabaab deputy leader Mukhtar Robow Tuesday addressed journalists in Mogadishu three days after he surrendered to the government and declared that he had cut links with the Al-Qaeda affiliated group.
Robow, who was ushered into a hotel room to address the media by security officials, declared he has no affiliation to the group and that he is now in talks with the Somali government.
"I announced today that I have quit Al-Shabaab following differences with them and I believe what they are doing does not serve the interests of the people," Robow said in brief remarks.
"Negotiations with the government are ongoing and I hope we will get a useful result out of it. I thank the government of Somalia," Robow said, adding he will work for the peace of the country.
The former Al-Shabaab renegade who deserted the group in 2013 was airlifted to Mogadishu Sunday following government reinforcement of his fighters in a two-week-long fierce fight with Al-Shabaab which had declared an all-out war with their former leader.
Robow now joins other former Al-Shabaab leaders under government custody in Mogadishu, among them Hassan Dahir Aweys, Mohamed Sheikh Atom and Zakariya Ahmed Ismail Hersi.
He said the defected from the militant group after a fall out with the top leader over ideological differences that do not serve the interests of Islam, people and Somalis.
"There have been ideological differences and misunderstanding between me and Al-Shabaab leadership over the doctrine and ideology that made me to defect about five years and seven months ago," Robow said.
Robow who is also known as Abu Mansour is intelligent and was a main pillar of the Somali militant Islamist group.
Analysts say his defection will deny Al-Shabaab vital manpower and intelligence. It is a big blow that Al-Shabaab will certainly lose all South of Somalia due to Robow's influence there besides the tight noose by Kenya Defense Forces.
Robow's defection will likely enable pro-government forces to operate in the regions of Bay and Bakool, reducing the insurgents' operational territory in two.
