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| The shadowy centre helping former al-Shabab members quit | The shadowy centre helping former al-Shabab members quit |
| (1 day later) | |
| In a small, heavily guarded compound on the bullet-riddled outskirts of Baidoa, a secretive team is working to undermine Somalia's Islamist militant group, al-Shabab, from the inside. | In a small, heavily guarded compound on the bullet-riddled outskirts of Baidoa, a secretive team is working to undermine Somalia's Islamist militant group, al-Shabab, from the inside. |
| "We can't just solve this militarily," said Aden Mohamed Hussein, ushering me past the soldiers at the gate. | "We can't just solve this militarily," said Aden Mohamed Hussein, ushering me past the soldiers at the gate. |
| "So far so good... We hope for a domino effect." | "So far so good... We hope for a domino effect." |
| Mr Hussein runs a new "disengagement" programme for surrendering al-Shabab members at the camp here in Baidoa, an hour's helicopter ride northwest of the capital Mogadishu, towards the Ethiopian border. | Mr Hussein runs a new "disengagement" programme for surrendering al-Shabab members at the camp here in Baidoa, an hour's helicopter ride northwest of the capital Mogadishu, towards the Ethiopian border. |
| Al-Shabab no longer controls the town or, we're assured, the surrounding countryside. But attacks are still frequent and our time inside the compound is strictly limited. | Al-Shabab no longer controls the town or, we're assured, the surrounding countryside. But attacks are still frequent and our time inside the compound is strictly limited. |
| Such are the alleged sensitivities surrounding what goes on behind the high stone walls, that the international organisation in charge has asked not to be named. | Such are the alleged sensitivities surrounding what goes on behind the high stone walls, that the international organisation in charge has asked not to be named. |
| Read Andrew's other reports from Somalia: | |
| Profile of a suicide bomber | |
| Sun, surf... and grenades in Mogadishu | |
| 'Why I left al-Shabab' | |
| Getting round remittance bans | |
| The same goes for all the former al-Shabab members, 80 in total, who are currently being housed here. | The same goes for all the former al-Shabab members, 80 in total, who are currently being housed here. |
| I can reveal that the German government is funding the programme. | I can reveal that the German government is funding the programme. |
| Britain is supporting another, similar camp in Mogadishu, which remains entirely off-limits for journalists. | Britain is supporting another, similar camp in Mogadishu, which remains entirely off-limits for journalists. |
| "These are the lower risk cases. Not the assassins or the explosive experts," said Mr Hussein. | "These are the lower risk cases. Not the assassins or the explosive experts," said Mr Hussein. |
| Given the thousands of al-Shabab militants still thought to be active, I asked him if the programme wasn't just a drop in the ocean. | Given the thousands of al-Shabab militants still thought to be active, I asked him if the programme wasn't just a drop in the ocean. |
| "Absolutely not. If we can accelerate and do more of this kind of work I believe we can overcome [al-Shabab]. | "Absolutely not. If we can accelerate and do more of this kind of work I believe we can overcome [al-Shabab]. |
| "We hope the people here can spread the word, that they have been welcomed, that there's no need to die in the bush," he said. | "We hope the people here can spread the word, that they have been welcomed, that there's no need to die in the bush," he said. |
| The first thing you notice inside the compound is the noise. | The first thing you notice inside the compound is the noise. |
| A loud generator is powering a welding kit, as two men hammer at a steel girder. | A loud generator is powering a welding kit, as two men hammer at a steel girder. |
| Three men are shovelling gravel into a barrow as more prepare to make breezeblocks. And in the far corner, five women are working at a row of pedal-powered sewing machines while beside them four men are busy dismantling a car engine. | Three men are shovelling gravel into a barrow as more prepare to make breezeblocks. And in the far corner, five women are working at a row of pedal-powered sewing machines while beside them four men are busy dismantling a car engine. |
| "No-one forced me to join al-Shabab. They were telling everyone to come and fight for Islam. So I joined up," said Mohammed, 30, a short, earnest man who used to be a shopkeeper in Buur Hakaba, in the Bay region of Somalia. | "No-one forced me to join al-Shabab. They were telling everyone to come and fight for Islam. So I joined up," said Mohammed, 30, a short, earnest man who used to be a shopkeeper in Buur Hakaba, in the Bay region of Somalia. |
| Five years ago, Mohammed became a tax collector for al-Shabab, who controlled the town. | Five years ago, Mohammed became a tax collector for al-Shabab, who controlled the town. |
| "I was trusted, and I knew maths," he explained. | "I was trusted, and I knew maths," he explained. |
| "We collected money from trucks bringing goods from Mogadishu. We took $6m (£3.8 million) a month," he said with a hint of pride. | "We collected money from trucks bringing goods from Mogadishu. We took $6m (£3.8 million) a month," he said with a hint of pride. |
| "Even after the government retook the area, we were still collecting $2.4m a month for al-Shabab," he said. | "Even after the government retook the area, we were still collecting $2.4m a month for al-Shabab," he said. |
| This observation - even if it is unconfirmed, and quite possibly exaggerated - speaks volumes about the failures of Somalia's new authorities to fill the vacuum left behind as territory is captured from the militants. | This observation - even if it is unconfirmed, and quite possibly exaggerated - speaks volumes about the failures of Somalia's new authorities to fill the vacuum left behind as territory is captured from the militants. |
| "It was the atrocities that made me use my head, and get out. I saw that these people were terrorists. | "It was the atrocities that made me use my head, and get out. I saw that these people were terrorists. |
| "Al-Shabab terrorised their own community - forcing people to give more money than they can afford. It was all about money - not religion. Then I heard the government was granting amnesties to people who leave, so I took advantage of that," Mohammed said. | "Al-Shabab terrorised their own community - forcing people to give more money than they can afford. It was all about money - not religion. Then I heard the government was granting amnesties to people who leave, so I took advantage of that," Mohammed said. |
| "Al-Shabab can be destroyed. But I'm not seeing any signs of that yet. They're still collecting money in two areas I know of right now. | "Al-Shabab can be destroyed. But I'm not seeing any signs of that yet. They're still collecting money in two areas I know of right now. |
| "Still, this [camp] is one of the solutions. We're being reintegrated here and given money to start businesses. No-one wants to stay in the bush and earn nothing. It's hot and bad there," he said. | "Still, this [camp] is one of the solutions. We're being reintegrated here and given money to start businesses. No-one wants to stay in the bush and earn nothing. It's hot and bad there," he said. |
| Mr Hussein, the project coordinator, said some of the newer arrivals at the camp had openly admitted they had surrendered more out of curiosity than conviction. | Mr Hussein, the project coordinator, said some of the newer arrivals at the camp had openly admitted they had surrendered more out of curiosity than conviction. |
| "Some of them will even tell you 'we are ambassadors - we've been sent [by others in al-Shabab] and if you treat us good then everyone will come'. | "Some of them will even tell you 'we are ambassadors - we've been sent [by others in al-Shabab] and if you treat us good then everyone will come'. |
| "Right now, even the ones who are in the centre are calling their old colleagues to say 'hey - we have protection here,' because others fear that when they come they will be killed. And I believe many, many, of them will come. So we are going to demand a larger space here," he said. | "Right now, even the ones who are in the centre are calling their old colleagues to say 'hey - we have protection here,' because others fear that when they come they will be killed. And I believe many, many, of them will come. So we are going to demand a larger space here," he said. |
| Hanat, 25, says he joined al-Shabab in 2006. He was unemployed and bored, but quickly discovered that his new bosses would not let him leave. | Hanat, 25, says he joined al-Shabab in 2006. He was unemployed and bored, but quickly discovered that his new bosses would not let him leave. |
| "In 2010 they took us to Mogadishu. We didn't have enough ammunition, not enough training - we were fighting a hide-and-seek war," he said, describing the intense urban warfare that raged in the capital against African Union and Somali government forces. | "In 2010 they took us to Mogadishu. We didn't have enough ammunition, not enough training - we were fighting a hide-and-seek war," he said, describing the intense urban warfare that raged in the capital against African Union and Somali government forces. |
| But then Hanat made a phone call that changed everything. | But then Hanat made a phone call that changed everything. |
| "My brother had been abroad, training in Uganda with the Somali national army. | "My brother had been abroad, training in Uganda with the Somali national army. |
| "When I joined al-Shabab I was told to switch off my phone, so I had no communication with my family, but later, in Mogadishu, I switched it back on and tried calling my brother. | "When I joined al-Shabab I was told to switch off my phone, so I had no communication with my family, but later, in Mogadishu, I switched it back on and tried calling my brother. |
| "He told me he was on the front line. Right there. Opposite me. I decided that if I fired another shot it would be my brother who would die. And if he shoots - he'll kill me. | "He told me he was on the front line. Right there. Opposite me. I decided that if I fired another shot it would be my brother who would die. And if he shoots - he'll kill me. |
| "We spoke just once on the phone. It was a very long conversation. He told me the government had more ammunition and better training, and I didn't want to die. | "We spoke just once on the phone. It was a very long conversation. He told me the government had more ammunition and better training, and I didn't want to die. |
| "So I changed my mind about what I was doing, escaped from Mogadishu, and when the government took control of Baidoa, I came here. | "So I changed my mind about what I was doing, escaped from Mogadishu, and when the government took control of Baidoa, I came here. |
| "I called a government official and told him I'd been with al-Shabab but had decided to leave. Then they welcomed me here," he said. | "I called a government official and told him I'd been with al-Shabab but had decided to leave. Then they welcomed me here," he said. |
| Across the courtyard, beside a tent packed with bunk beds, one of the handful of women in the camp came over to talk to me. | Across the courtyard, beside a tent packed with bunk beds, one of the handful of women in the camp came over to talk to me. |
| Unlike most of the men, 20-year-old Fatoumah had not joined al-Shabab willingly. | Unlike most of the men, 20-year-old Fatoumah had not joined al-Shabab willingly. |
| "I remember the day they kidnapped me. I was coming from school, and they forced me into their car. | "I remember the day they kidnapped me. I was coming from school, and they forced me into their car. |
| "They tortured me, and starved me. Then they raped me. Eventually I had to submit - that was the only way I could save myself," she said. | "They tortured me, and starved me. Then they raped me. Eventually I had to submit - that was the only way I could save myself," she said. |
| "The torture lasted for eight months. They did bad things to me. Then they made me marry an Emir - a commander - of the group. One of my three children is his. The other two are from a different fighter. | "The torture lasted for eight months. They did bad things to me. Then they made me marry an Emir - a commander - of the group. One of my three children is his. The other two are from a different fighter. |
| "My first husband died. Then I was made to marry another. They were merciless. I was with al-Shabab for three years. There were other women with me - some foreign. | "My first husband died. Then I was made to marry another. They were merciless. I was with al-Shabab for three years. There were other women with me - some foreign. |
| "I served the fighters food and water. When they went to war I had to provide first aid. We went into battle with them and even fought along side them. | "I served the fighters food and water. When they went to war I had to provide first aid. We went into battle with them and even fought along side them. |
| "One day we were in a convoy going to fight and there was an ambush by Amisom (African Union forces). When I got wounded in my side they abandoned me. | "One day we were in a convoy going to fight and there was an ambush by Amisom (African Union forces). When I got wounded in my side they abandoned me. |
| "I went to hide in the bush. Later some people found me and gave me traditional medicine to heal my wound, then they took me by camel to a safer area," she said. | "I went to hide in the bush. Later some people found me and gave me traditional medicine to heal my wound, then they took me by camel to a safer area," she said. |
| Eventually Fatoumah was brought to the camp in Baidoa - partly for her own protection. | Eventually Fatoumah was brought to the camp in Baidoa - partly for her own protection. |
| "I was part of them - and they didn't want me to leave. Whoever tries to leave must be killed. | "I was part of them - and they didn't want me to leave. Whoever tries to leave must be killed. |
| "So they sent several people to kill me, including someone with a suicide vest - he blew himself up when he met me. That's why I have this scar on my head," she said, pointing to a line on her forehead. | "So they sent several people to kill me, including someone with a suicide vest - he blew himself up when he met me. That's why I have this scar on my head," she said, pointing to a line on her forehead. |
| The Baidoa camp serves many roles. | The Baidoa camp serves many roles. |
| It offers former combatants a chance to retrain, and also to confront what they've done - a new programme called "Tree of Peace (or more literally, Acacia of Peace) is developing a Somali-led process of truth and reconciliation for communities ripped apart by the conflict. | It offers former combatants a chance to retrain, and also to confront what they've done - a new programme called "Tree of Peace (or more literally, Acacia of Peace) is developing a Somali-led process of truth and reconciliation for communities ripped apart by the conflict. |
| But for many of those living here, the camp is above all a sanctuary - a guarded compound where people like Fatumah are relatively safe from al-Shabab. | But for many of those living here, the camp is above all a sanctuary - a guarded compound where people like Fatumah are relatively safe from al-Shabab. |
| Useful, no doubt. But the question looms - how long will people have to stay here before they feel safe to return home? | Useful, no doubt. But the question looms - how long will people have to stay here before they feel safe to return home? |