Somalia says Shabaab ‘wrangling’ good for war on terror
Somalia National Army troops, as well as the African Union Mission in Somalia, line up in a convoy on the road leading up to the al-Shabab, stronghold of Barawe, in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia, 200 kilometres (120 miles) southwest of Mogadishu in 2014
What you need to know:
- The difference generated heavy armed confrontation between Karate faction against Dirie’s in Jilib town and Hargeisa-Yarey settlement.
- Ahmed Dirie assumed the leadership of Al-Shabaab after the group’s leader and co-founder, Ahmed Godane alias Mukhtar Abu Zubayr, was killed by US Drone attack on September 1, 2016.
Somalia is salivating at intel that shows key Shabaab leaders are wrangling among themselves, indicating disagreements as the country launches a new phase against the militant group.
According to the Somali Ministry of Defence, a new dispute arose started when militants loyal to Mahad Karate, one of the top officials of the extremist group, were detained by a faction allied with the group spiritual leader, Ahmed Dirie alas Abu Ubaida.
The difference generated heavy armed confrontation between Karate faction against Dirie’s in Jilib town and Hargeisa-Yarey settlement in Middle Jubba, about 400 km south of Mogadishu.
The ministerial report published this week added that the disagreement is centered on the management of the Al-Qaeda-linked group’s finances, assumed to be around $120 million of which about $25 million is spent on purchase of weapons.
US Drone attack
“The imprisonment of Karate’s militants was followed by mayhem,” stated the ministry’s statement adding that intra-group rivalry brings the pro-Somali government forces to defeating the terrorists.
“It can be huge boost for our military to neutralise Al-Shabaab militants in the ongoing campaign,” it added.
Reports indicate that Karate and Dirie’s rivalry over the direction of the group is not new, indicating that it emerged ever since the leader’s health condition was questioned.
Ahmed Dirie assumed the leadership of Al-Shabaab after the militant group’s leader and co-founder, Ahmed Godane alias Mukhtar Abu Zubayr, was killed by US Drone attack on September 1, 2016.
Campaigns against Al-Shabaab
Somali government forces in cooperation with local militias known as Mo’awisley and peacekeepers serving under the auspices of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in collaboration with other international partners have been waging military campaigns against Al-Shabaab.
The first phase of the operations is focusing on Hirshabelle and Galmudug, states in Central Somalia. The next phase labelled as Phase 2 will be conducted in the southern states of Jubbaland and South West.
The US Rewards for Justice offered each up to $10 million for information on Ahmed Dirie alas Abu Ubaida and Mahad Karate also known as Abdirahman Mohamed Warsame.
