Mukhtar Robow "can be useful" in the war against Al-Shabaab, the president of Somalia said.

 (Warar Online) MOGADISHU - Former Al-Shabaab commander Mukhtar Robow, who is presently the Minister for Religious Affairs, will be helpful in the government's war against the militants associated with Al-Qaeda, according to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

In an interview with the president, he remarked of the former Al-Shabaab defector, "We can't give him weapons and urge him to fight, but he can be beneficial," highlighting the fact that the man can persuade other Al-Shabaab officials to defect.

"We want to demonstrate to the Al-Shabaab leadership that they will not be humiliated or harmed if they surrender," he continued.

The Somali leader said that his new minister was enticing middle-level Al-Shabaab members to change sides by opening up channels of communication with them.

Robow, who welcomed the Guardian into his Mogadishu home at President Mohamud's invitation, maintains that he and Al-Shabaab have long-standing ideological differences. I didn't agree with their principles and culture, he claims. I'm a human, not a monster, I say.

The media-averse former Al-Shabaab commander claimed that during fighting, Al-Shabaab killed members of his family, including his son. His tone alternated between anger and indignation.