Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has appointed Mukhtar Roobow “Abu Mansur”, a former deputy leader of Al‑Shabaab who defected in 2013, as Minister for Religious Affairs, endowments, and Countering Violent Extremism. The move has sparked sharp debate at home and abroad.Supporters see it as a bold, pragmatic step toward reconciliation and countering extremist ideology from within. Roobow, once tipped to lead Al‑Shabaab, broke with hardline leader Ahmed Abdi Godane over extremist tactics, clan politics, and theological disputes. He survived multiple assassination attempts before formally defecting, condemning Al‑Shabaab’s violence, and pledging support for the Somali government.Critics, however, fear the ppointment sends the wrong message on accountability and could embolden extremists. Western diplomats remain cautious, while Ethiopia, which arrested Roobow in 2018, worries about its political impact in South West State, a region it considers strategically vital. Roobow’s public denunciation of Al‑Shabaab, including during the aftermath of the 2017 Zoobe Junction bombing where he donated blood to victims, remains a defining moment. His appointment tests Somalia’s approach to reintegration: can former extremists help defeat the ideology they once embraced, or will such moves undermine trust in government?