Somalia’s Al-Shabab rebels force men to grow beards

MOGADISHU: Somalia’s Al-Shabab rebels on Saturday ordered men to grow long beards, shave their moustaches and wear their trousers above the ankle.

It is the first time in the lawless Horn of Africa country that the insurgents have focused on men’s appearance, having previously ordered women to cover their entire bodies, and banned bras.

“We are ordering all men in Kismayu not to shave or trim their beards, but shave the moustache,” Ibrahim Garweyn, a senior Al-Shabab official said on Saturday.

“We will never accept to see men with long beards and moustaches together. They have three days to follow the order.” Al-Shabab also ordered men to wear their trousers above the ankle. “They have 15 days to follow the order,” Garweyn said.