ISIS uses medical services to recruit youth in Somalia
ISIS is drawing on medical services
to win over and recruit young people from communities in Somali rural regions. ISIS
claimed it treated around 200 patients, most of them had general medical
conditions like malnutrition, dehydration, anemia, hepatitis and AIDS.
The terrorist group accused the
Somali government of neglect and failing to provide these communities with
sufficient healthcare services. The takfiri group urged foreign doctors to
offer medical services to these communities.
The move is aimed at winning over these communities and recruit new members. It is similar to previous moves carried out by the terrorist group in July 2018 when it banned plastic bags in the areas they control in the north of the country, citing the dangers of these bags to human health and livestock.
Ahmed Askar, an expert on African affairs, told THE REFERENCE that the terrorist group wants to have make supporters in the areas it controls to cement its presence in Somalia, which is a key spot in East Africa.
“The group wants to recruit young Somalis and lure some leaders of the Mujahideen movement. Insecurity may hit Somalia especially as African troops withdraw from the country,” Askar said.
