Somalia: Al-Shabaab leadership wrangles tearing it from within

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Wrangles within Al-Shabaab leadership has been causing drifts within the militia group, a situation that is benefitting countries that have suffered the brunt of terrorism.

The division has caused the execution of some of the leaders of the group’s Shura Council, the militant’s governing body.

Kenyan intelligence agencies said this week that fighters affiliated to the militia have taken sides between top leaders, leading to conflicts, infighting, and deaths.

“The result has been defection and retreat by fighters. Countries have recently embraced returnees with amnesty and economic empowerment and this has really helped in the fight against terrorism,” a counter-terrorism intelligence officer told the Nation.

FALLING OUT

Last month, the attack on a building complex in Bu’aale town in Middle Juba is believed to have targeted Al-Shabaab’s director of Kenyan operations Ahmad Iman Ali.

Security forces reported that Ali, who was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the United States, died during the March 22 attack.

The airstrike was reportedly conducted by an ‘unidentified aircraft’.

Somalia security forces and media reported recently that Ali had fallen out with Al-Shabaab leadership and was seeking to defect from the group or pledge allegiance to the Islamic State.

Earlier in August 2017, Al-Shabaab’s second in command Mukhtar Robow defected to the Somalia government.

Another high ranking commander Abdi Haji surrendered to Somalia security forces to whom he claimed his life was in danger.

“Militants are now turning against each other to secure a place in the group. This has been caused by Abu Ubeidah’s refusal to step down even with his illness worsening”, said Haji told Somali authorities.

KENYAN FIGHTER

He reported that the Al-Shabaab leadership has increasingly been persecuting Kenyan fighters over spying allegations, attempted desertions and pledging allegiance to the Islamic State (IS).

Earlier on April 2, 2018, Ahmed Yusuf Hassan and Ahmed Nur Abdi Osoble, both Kenyan Al-Shabaab fighters, were executed by Al-Shabaab firing squad at Buq Aqable in Hiraan region after being accused of collaborating with the Somalia government and African Union Mission in Somalia forces.

Other Kenyan Al-Shabaab militants who have been executed recently by their Al-Shabaab masters over spying claims include former Moi University student Jared Mukaya Omambia alias Abdulaziz, a Nairobi recruit Abdallah Talal Musa alias Manman and Faraj Abdulmajid from Mombasa.

Credible security sources indicate that Al-Shabaab is currently looking for a key Kenyan commander within its ranks who has disappeared after being deployed to conduct operations along the Kenya-Somalia border.

Moulid Mohammed Bilal is believed to be in hiding to evade capture and possible execution by the Somalia-based terror group.