Somalia’s Al-shabaab fighters banned several aid groups working in famine-hit areas under their control. According to witnesses the militants stormed aid offices in Beledweyne and Baidoa towns in the southern part of Somalia
In a statement posted on website amiirnur Al-shabaab said some of the banned groups had worked with churches to convert young, Muslim Somalis to Christianity.
“Any organisation found to be supporting or actively engaged in activities deemed detrimental to the attainment of an Islamic state or performing duties other than that which it formally proclaims will be banned immediately without prior warning,” it said.
“Three armoured vehicles with gunmen surrounded the offices, including the office of [UN children’s agency] UNICEF," Baidoa resident Abdulahi Idle told the AFP news agency.
"I saw many militiamen go inside the places and force the people there to leave and the men took control."
One of Al-shabaab senior official said three aid agencies would still be allowed to operate; and they are: the International Committee of the Red Cross, medical aid charity MSF and Italy’s Copi.
The list of the banned aid agencies are as follows:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
World Health Organization
United Nations Children’s Fund
United Nations Population Fund
United Nations Office for Project Services
Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit
Norwegian Refugee Council
Danish Refugee Council
Concern
Norwegian Church Aid
Cooperazione Internazionale
Swedish African Welfare Alliance
German Agency for Technical Cooperation
Action Contre la Faim
Solidarity
Saacid
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