Wednesday 16th August 2017

Human Rights Watch on Tuesday urged the Somali government to investigate alleged human rights abuses by a former deputy leader of the militant group al-Shabab who surrendered to the government this week.

"International law prohibits amnesties for those responsible for grave abuses. Mukhtar Robow had a leadership role in al-Shabaab at a time when we documented indiscriminate attacks on civilians, forced recruitment of children and other abuses against residents under the group's control," it said in a statement.

The Somali government needs to investigate Robow's role and ensure that those responsible for the worst abuses are not able to escape just punishment, it added.

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