Divisions weaken al-Shabaab as Somali forces approach Kismayo

By Adnan Hussein in Mogadishu

August 28, 2012

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Al-Shabaab has witnessed increased internal divisions as Somali and allied forces move to eradicate the group from the remaining areas it controls in central and southern Somalia, officials and dissident fighters say.

  • Recently trained members of the Somali National Army ride in the back on a pick-up truck during a parade at an African Union Mission in Somalia training facility in Mogadishu. [Stuart Price/AFP]

    Recently trained members of the Somali National Army ride in the back on a pick-up truck during a parade at an African Union Mission in Somalia training facility in Mogadishu. [Stuart Price/AFP]

Colonel Adan Shire Rufle, a Somali army officer in Lower Juba, said 50 al-Shabaab fighters on August 24th defected from the group and voluntarily joined the army after witnessing the militants' aggressions and strict version of sharia law.

Rufle said dissidents carrying Kalashnikovs, rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns peacefully turned themselves in to Somali forces in Afmadow after escaping al-Shabaab's ambushes.

"We expect further splinters and ideological divisions within the al-Shabaab structure, as some elements have expressed interest in surrendering and asked us for refuge from the takfiri traitors," he told Sabahi.

Backed by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Somali forces have started tightening the noose around the remaining militants by attacking al-Shabaab forces around Afmadow as it progresses towards the group's stronghold of Kismayo.

Over the past several weeks, allied forces have been bombing sites used by al-Shabaab and followers of al-Qaeda in Gedo and Lower Juba, according to the Somali army.

'Not true jihad'

As despair has set in on the al-Shabaab militants due to the allied forces' military success in Lower Juba, public dissention within the group is increasing.

Former fighter Kamal Mohamed Yarow said al-Shabaab militants are nothing but ignorant mafia gang members who rob, loot and kill -- acts condemned by Islam. He said al-Shabaab's reputation is poor among the victimised Somali people, whose blood they have spilt and whose homes and businesses they have destroyed.

Yarow told Sabahi he will never bear arms for the group again, as al-Shabaab is involved in torture, decapitations and murder.

"They would take me to violent clashes and assassinations and I would brag in front of girls in the cities," he said. "This is not true jihad. If they actually practice what they preach when it comes to jihad, why have the emir of al-Shabaab Ahmed Abdi Godane, the group's political spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage and Sheikh Fuad Mohamed Qalaf, who is in charge of advocacy and propaganda, not sought martyrdom?"

Yarow said al-Shabaab used to send him money to take care of his family, but the money was insufficient, which he said demonstrates the group's dwindling finances.

According to Said Sheikh Abdiweli, another dissident al-Shabaab fighter, conflict is raging among the group's senior leaders, which has resulted in many members being killed, caught in the crossfire of the group's internal conflict and mismanagement. The group has also executed its own members for allegedly spying for foreign governments.

Abdiweli told Sabahi that some of the fighters even killed wounded comrades by shooting them in the head during battles in Mogadishu, Hudur, Adale, Rama Adi, Diinsoor and the Dhuumale district.

"The situation has gotten worse among the radical militants, with dwindling revenues coming from robbery, kidnappings and looting cargo trucks," he said. "This is because the deployment of the Somali army, backed by AMISOM, has managed to take control and erect barriers, sealing off the area. The result has been economic stagnation [for al-Shabaab] in Lower Juba and Middle Juba."

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Reader's Comments

  • Nassor
    October 24, 2012 @ 07:04:04PM

    Truly this is just propaganda aimed at soiling the name of the Al-Shabaab group they are on the path of justice and INSHA’ALLAH this group will win let us continue praying to God to give victory to these fighters of a holy war who are not liked by Infidels. And if God wills they will win. They will just win even though the infidels hate that as God tells us in many of his Verses, that he is with those who depend on him.

  • Range CM
    October 24, 2012 @ 07:04:46AM

    Why is it that in Africa we have so many crises compared to European countries? Let us reform. For how long shall we Africans kill one another?

  • Amos wainaina
    October 7, 2012 @ 01:55:32AM

    Al-Shabaab don’t have Islam in them.

  • stephen okil
    September 18, 2012 @ 03:46:03AM

    I we really need to pray for the defeat of al shabaab because that guarantee lasting peace in the region.

  • nelson
    September 17, 2012 @ 11:59:00AM

    propaganda is it

  • nin jecalya inaya diintuu sarayso
    September 17, 2012 @ 04:57:00AM

    Al-Shabaab is on the right track. Are they wrong for colonizing you by using the religion because money and tribalism became your religion? Beware that Al-Shabaab is a tribal group because it is led by a man from the Isack clan. He is not a foreigner but he owns the country with you and he can do whatever he wants.

  • anonymous
    September 17, 2012 @ 03:59:18AM

    "Peace on you"................which peace are these hypocrites talking about? burn in hell

  • Zephie
    September 16, 2012 @ 04:28:57AM

    abu mucad, sarqaawi,zubayr Lost souls... The violence is not a Muslim Thing... Find the true ways by trully reading the teachings of Muhammad, Peace be upon Him.

  • sarqaawi
    September 12, 2012 @ 05:21:01AM

    Let you people know that God is the supreme administrator of everything. You are nothing whether Al-Shabaab diminishes or is ousted and God is not your supreme caretaker because you support violence and all other things forbidden by God including rape. I pray to God to lead you to the straight path. The disbelievers you support will not benefit you in any way except putting you into more problems and taking your daughters. God told us that Jews and Christians will not allow you something except using us to realize their goals. I would like to urge those who love to be good to repent to God.

  • fiita waraari
    September 10, 2012 @ 11:42:08AM

    I believe that things are not moving in the right direction because for nearly a year the government forces were unable to reach the Jubas especially Kismayu and at times, I feel that there is a deliberate attempt not to phase out Alshabaab their name and existence was long to be lost.

  • maxamed cabdi
    September 8, 2012 @ 11:01:57AM

    I think Al-Shabaab will be a thing of past as they are now losing ground because they were cursed by the Somali community.

  • hassan kalgacal
    September 6, 2012 @ 01:56:06PM

    Surely, it can be said that all those things have come to an end because we have got hope to build a legitimate government, God willing.

  • Nathaniel Thuo
    September 6, 2012 @ 03:50:03AM

    al-Shabbab idiots are on the verge of being eliminated. In a few days, many of them will not being among the living.

  • abu mucad
    September 6, 2012 @ 12:16:03AM

    This is a big lie and God is far from all bad issues. As a boy who was born in Qorahey, I would like to urge all those who have strayed to repent to God and understand the truth. May God lead you to the straight path. Secondly, there is no doubt the Muslims particularly the holy war fighters will succeed wherever they are. I would like to urge the men who wrote this article and who work for this website to fear God. Don’t stray from your hereafter. God has revealed certain verses of the holy Koran in response to such information you wrote or something close to it uttered by the hypocrites. Fear God and stop insulting the holy war fighters.

  • jemo
    September 5, 2012 @ 07:49:43AM

    The time has come for their barbaric action to come to an end

  • eyamn salaad
    September 4, 2012 @ 10:39:27AM

    Peace on you. That talk is right but they are divided on it.

  • libanihos
    September 4, 2012 @ 10:08:01AM

    j aime faire ça [I like to do that]

  • jihama
    September 4, 2012 @ 09:27:35AM

    in this article there is some lie, ppl arenot talking the truth about alshaabab

  • maxamed
    September 4, 2012 @ 04:04:19AM

    Somalia is suffering and it can only be treated when it gets a patriot who is bold enough to help her as a country.

  • Gilbert
    September 4, 2012 @ 02:15:01AM

    its high time africans elect leaders with vision and a better future 4 their people rether than those who want to benefit themselves

  • abdi
    September 3, 2012 @ 11:11:16AM

    down with alshabaab.there place ys hellfire

  • ronny
    September 3, 2012 @ 08:23:18AM

    jihadfist will rot in hell!

  • mosses jumanne
    September 2, 2012 @ 03:39:47PM

    Justice will prevail! Zubayr you are right. Those are just propaganda for people with little understanding.

  • maxamad
    September 2, 2012 @ 10:11:11AM

    My friends, lying is forbidden. Holy war fighters will never fall apart. Fear God.

  • nimcaan abiib xaashi
    September 1, 2012 @ 03:36:18PM

    The parliamentary election has taken place well and we wish the presidential election to happen the same way.

  • عبد القادر كافي
    August 31, 2012 @ 05:02:27AM

    All governments must work on combating extremism and the outrageous crimes it could lead to. They must work on preparing individuals to adapt to their surrounding and to the community in which they live and uphold the laws of Allah the Almighty in a way that would please Him. In fact, they should emphasize Islam as a religion of tolerance, suitability, conciliation and moderation. They should also work on stressing that Islam forbids extremism and excessiveness in all issues, as well as highlighting the Islamic jurisprudences that Promote virtue and prevent vice and hereby retorts to offenders. They should also work on helping citizens to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong, enhancing the importance of the community and the danger of showing disobedience to the rulers, get acquainted to the principles of Islam and be aware of its goals and objectives and learn its teachings. In fact, the absence of a religious education and the spread of ignorance are the major reasons that lead to the spread of seditions. Therefore, we must pay further attention to the religious education based on its original right sources, which highlight Islam as a universal message for all people. This was brought by our Prophet, peace be upon him, who was keen and done his utmost to call on all people to join this religion. Prophet Mohamed endured harm and hardships for Islam and became a role model for his nation. Thus, people must be connected to the leaders and scholars of the nation and return to them in the different life's issues. The latter is considered as a reason for pride, dignity, victory, stability, security and all other blessed fruits and good results.

  • muriuki
    August 29, 2012 @ 05:51:34AM

    these millitabnts can not convince anyone that the murders they are carrying out are jihad.Let someone remind them of wait hell fire the moment they die.

  • zubayr
    August 29, 2012 @ 04:49:29AM

    Peace on you. The information on this page seems as information meant to those people who have no knowledge about leadership, function and forces of Al-Shabaab movement. Lastly, I would like the liars and those who talk ill about the movement to fear God. Peace on you.

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