Somalia names former leader of al-Shabab extremist group as government minister

Mukhtar Robow, who once had a five million dollar US bounty on his head

Former deputy leader of the al-Shabab extremist group, Mukhtar Robow (AP)

A former deputy leader of the al-Shabab extremist group has been named a government minister by Somalia’s new administration in a move some analysts claim is a chance to persuade fighters to denounce violence.

Mukhtar Robow has been given the post of religious affairs minister in the government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.