Somali clans are revolting against jihadists

, once a feared leader of al-Shabab, , jabs his finger at a map of Somalia. Now a cabinet minister, he rattles off the names of places that have recently been recaptured from his erstwhile comrades. The lands of the Hawadle clan in Hiran, central Somalia? “They’ve liberated all of it.” Almost all of the region’s key roads are also under government control. The next districts to be liberated will probably be Galguduud and Middle Shabelle (see map). And the rest of Somalia? “Al-Shabab is on the back foot,” answers the former terrorist who once had a $5m American bounty on his head. “Gains are being made every day.”Those gains have, however, come at a bloody price. On October 29th twin car bombings in the capital, Mogadishu, killed at least 100 people. It was the country’s deadliest attack since a blast at the same place five years ago. Al-Shabab swiftly claimed credit, saying their target was the education ministry and calling it an “enemy base” bent on turning Somali children away from their Islamic faith. , who has pledged “total war” against the jihadists since returning to office in May for his second term as president, replied that these revenge attacks showed the government is “winning”.