ISIS recruits foreign fighters in Somalia to make gains against Al-Shabaab

NAIROBI, Kenya - The Islamic State’s fighters in Somalia have invested immensely in the recruitment of more foreign fighters, a special report by the United Nations has revealed, posing a major security threat in the Horn of Africa, a move that could escalate conflicts within the region.

A few years ago, the IS-Somalia group was struggling with finances and could not recruit as many fighters as they could, but in recent months, the group's expansionist ideology has leapfrogged their Al-Shabaab rival, who are having rough times in southern regions of the country.

A just-issued UN sanctions monitoring team report warns the foreign fighters 'have expanded and enhanced the group’s capabilities against al-Shabaab'. Al-Shabaab is the dominant terror group in Somalia but is currently facing sophisticated operations waged by the Somali National Army (SNA) and its allies.

The report, which has since been made public, contends that the influx of foreign fighters to IS-Somalia 'has coincided with the re-emergence of the Al-Karrar office as a key administrative and financial hub for (ISIS) globally', explaining its ability to make effective recruitment.

IS-Somalia being led by a cadre of former al-Shabaab militants based in the Bari region of Puntland, the UN report further explains. There is a limited presence of Al-Shabaab within the Puntland, which is considered the most stable federal state of Somalia.

Abdirahman Fahiye Isse Mohamud is the emir of IS-Somalia, the report confirms, adding that he is "responsible for (ISIS) operations in Somalia". UN report identifies Abdiwali Waran-Walac, also from the Bari region of Puntland, as the head of finance for IS-Somalia

Abdul Qadir Mumin, previously ID'd as the leader of IS-Somalia, was not promoted to lead all of ISIS. The new UN report says "no evidence to substantiate that claim."

The UN report, based on member state intelligence, says Abdul Qadir Mumin is currently "head of the general directorate of provinces, placing him in a leadership role over [ISIS]-affiliates in Africa"

ISIS' Somalia-based al-Karrar office is more powerful but also "more decentralized and difficult to disrupt, the report adds. It further says at least one Syrian is now involved in overseeing the office's efforts.

Of much interest is the claim that the group has "made significant gains" in Puntland from late 2023 to mid-2024. Official sources note this is likely due in part to an increase in foreign fighters, who are responsible for logistics involving planning and strategy.

IS-Somalia has bases in the Balidhidin, Hunbays, Iskushuban, and Qandal districts of the Bari region within Puntland and recent intelligence estimates suggest IS-Somalia has doubled in size, thanks in part to the arrival of foreign fighters

UN report says the group now likely has 600-700 fighters in all bases and the IS-Somalia revenues are also likely growing, potentially causing more discomfort to the rival Al-Shabaab. Predictably, it adds, the group could destabilize Somalia which is undergoing various social-economic, security, and political transitions.

"Given the relatively small size of (ISIS)-Somalia, the group can sustain itself and generate additional revenue for other [ISIS]-affiliates through the Al-Karrar office," the report adds.

Somalia is phasing out the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) which will be replaced by a much leaner team dubbed the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Further, the country is facing diplomatic tussles with Ethiopia and internal political rifts.

GAROWE ONLINE