Has Al-Shabaab Infiltrated the Somali National Army?

MOQOKORI, Somalia - On Saturday, a senior Somali National Army (SNA) officer was shot dead by his junior in the force, in what has been linked to Al-shabaab militants, a group seeking to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Col. Abdirahman Hujale, who until his demise was the commander of the 26th Brigade of the 27th Division, was in his usual duties of commanding the national army in the frontlines when a junior official fatally shot him, with the motive still unknown.

He was gunned down at Moqokori within the fragile Hiiraan region in central Somalia. According to authorities, he was subsequently detained, paving the way for investigations, with officials set to find out about the motive of the murder.

Interestingly, his death comes a few weeks after another soldier killed Nur Farey, another senior commander, who was assassinated outside Afgoye town. The two officers were agents of the war against al-Shabaab militants who control large swathes of rural central and southern regions.

Security analysts insist the al-Shabaab militants have infiltrated the command of the Somali National Army, arguing that most soldiers have been recruited by the group to act on their behalf. However, Garowe Online cannot independently verify this claim.

The militants have lately been targeting the military for raids, with several soldiers reportedly working with them at the detriment of the federal government of Somalia. Politicians whom security analysts have previously pointed out in this claim.

Authorities in Moqokori, led by the District Commissioner, have not ruled out the Al-Shabaab's involvement in the latest case, but preliminary indications suggest the soldier may have been under the influence of narcotics. He noted that drug use among government troops, even in combat zones, remains a huge setback.

The government says the troops intensified their crackdown against the Al-Shabaab, killing several militants. But Alshabaab claims to have killed over 22 soldiers in a retaliatory attack, although the figure cannot be verified, given that the group thrives on propaganda.

GAROWE ONLINE