Skip to main content

Islamic State Somalia collapsing

Taqwa Media Group 
ON February 16th 2020, Islamic State fighters in Somalia released photos of their fighters training in newly renamed training camps. The camps were named after former IS leaders Abu Bakar Al Baghdadi and Abu Hassan Al Muhajiri - both killed. 
ISIS’s branch in Somalia has failed to take off from the word go. Although they have claimed several attacks in Puntland, the almost dysfunctional group had minimized attacks in Somalia due to huge rivalry with AlShabaab and invasions by security forces. 
Drastically weakened, the group has since taken retreat in Puntland’s Golis and Bari mountains to hide from endless airstrikes from the US military. 
IS-Somalia’s bid to expand territory suffered a series of impediments following their fall out with Al-Qaida’s strongest branch-        Al-Shabaab which enjoys a significant following in the horn of Africa. Al-Shabaab spokesman once labeled IS a ‘disease’ and ‘cancer’ which has to be gotten rid of. 
In 2015 propaganda by ISIS began to encourage Al-Shabaab fighters to defect causing a rift between the two sides. Since then, Al-Shabaab has been at loggerheads with the Islamic State in Somalia with the two factions often engaging in fierce battles across Somalia. Al-Qaida and IS don’t see each other eye to eye, with the former accusing the latter of being ‘too brutal.’ 
Of late, Al-Shabaab has also lost a number of fighters, top leaders and financiers who have surrendered to the authorities. There is a lot wrangles and infighting going on in the group, most of it caused by the disregard for civilian casualties in their attacks. 
IS Somalia province looks debilitated despite their latest photo shows which could only invite reprisal and renewed rivalry from Alshabaab. 
 
 
 
 
  
  

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Al-Shabaab assassinates a Banana vendor

The radical group Al-Shabaab that operates mainly in Somalia has claimed responsibility for the assassination of a trader who sells Bananas. The deceased who was named as Hilowle Aboor was a famous trader at Boocle market in Mogadishu, Somalia where he sold bananas, the same market that he was shot dead on February 4, 2019. Al-Shabaab claimed that Mr. Aboor was an undercover officer for the Somali government. The security agencies did not comment about the claims of Al-Shabaab and whether one of their men was killed. The group also claimed responsibility for another assassination that happened at the same night but did not give any explanation as to who he was and why they killed him. The terror group carries out assassinations in Mogadishu almost on daily basis.

Kenyan clergy should stand up to Al-Shabaab

Any time a devastating terror attack happens, religious leaders are very quick to mention that they don’t consider terrorists to be true Muslims. After the Dusit attack, Muslim leaders reiterated that such attacks are unacceptable, immoral and inconsistent with Human values and ethics. Deputy leader of SUPKEM said "we strongly condemn the barbaric and criminal tactic of perpetuating violence against innocent people" But some countries that have also been affected by this menace have decided to do more than just condemn.  Countries in East Asia for example have declared ‘FATWA’(a ruling on a point of Islamic law given by a recognized authority) on terrorism, the aim being to reduce radicalism and militancy, and discourage sympathizers and patrons of militants from pursuing violent ways. North Eastern Kenya and coastal regions are totally being deprived of crucial services like education because of Al-Shabaab’s relentless attacks on learning institutions and teachers.  Recently...

ALSHABAAB SINGER ARRESTED IN SOMALIA

Somali’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) says it has arrested a local musician Abshir Garane Ahmed, who was allegedly working with AlShabaab terror group in Mogadishu for a while. NISA posted a video clip of the singer confessing to Al-Shabaab membership and said the suspect will soon be arraigned in court. Mr. Ahmed who is a member of a local music band in Banadir, says in the clip that he was working with the terror group on Intelligence and finances. https://getsnap.link/NSafLKBPuf5 Alshabaab however released a statement denying the claims of the intelligence agency, saying the man in question is not one of them. Somali security agencies have of late arrested some high profile persons on grounds of working and or helping Al-Shabaab.  There are a number of notable figures who were on the government’s payroll but actually worked for Al-shabaab. Some of those convicted include A district commissioner, Inteligence officer, College lecturer, a member of p...