Somali militias terrorise locals after driving out Al-Qaeda

The 36-year-old must constantly scan the desolate, drought-ravaged terrain for loose wires and suspicious debris. Decades of war have left these plains littered with landmines and unexploded ordnance. Lately, there is an additional fear for Hersi, whose name has been changed to protect him from reprisals. In 2022, the government started arming clan militias to fight off Al-Shabaab, the local Al-Qaeda affiliate that has waged war against the state for two decades. The offensive saw major successes against the insurgents...