By Adnan Hussein in Mogadishu
June 04, 2012
Military losses and ideological differences have prompted some
al-Shabaab leaders to discuss forming a breakaway movement to join the
political process in Somalia and renounce al-Shabaab's violent tactics, a
high ranking al-Shabaab commander told Sabahi.
As AMISOM and Somali troops capture key strongholds and attack from
several fronts, al-Shabaab members have been embroiled in major internal
disputes, the commander, who asked not to be identified, said.
A group of high ranking al-Shabaab commanders are currently meeting in the village of Janaale in Lower Shabelle to form a new breakaway movement with support from some Somali tribes, with the aim to engage in political negotiations with Somali government officials after the August deadline for ending transitional rule.
The dissenting leaders include Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, who recently issued public statements accusing other al-Shabaab leaders of shedding the blood of Muslims and murdering innocent civilians in the name of Islam.
Others include Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Ali, known as Abu Mansur; Sheikh Mohammed Ibrahim, known as Bilal; Sheikh Hassan Yaqub, responsible for Kismayo, which AMISOM forces say will fall within weeks.
Other regional al-Shabaab commanders meeting in Janaal include: Sheikh Yusuf Isse, known as Kaba-kutukade and responsible for Middle Shabelle; Sheikh Mohammed Abdullahi Hirey, alias Sheikh Mohammed Abu Abdalla, in charge of Lower Shabelle; Sheikh Yusuf Ali Ugaas from Hiran; Sheikh Ali Mohammed Hussein, a former al-Shabaab leader in Mogadishu; and Sheikh Abdifatah Mohammed Ali, the former treasurer of the dissolved Hizbul Islam.
The commanders are currently finalising an official position for the new alliance, which they may announce within a few weeks, the al-Shabaab commander said.
He said another meeting is ongoing in Barawe, Lower Shabelle, among more radical leaders of al-Shabaab. They include: Ahmed Abdi Godane, known as Sheikh Mukhtar Abdirahman Abu al-Zubair, the emir of al-Shabaab; his deputy, Mahad Warsame Qaleey, also known as Mahad Karateey; Sheikh Fuad Mohammed Khalaf, also known as Fuad Shongole, responsible for advocacy and propaganda; Sheikh Hussein Ali Fiidow, responsible for policy and regional affairs; Sheikh Ali Mahamoud Rage, known as Ali Dheere, official spokesman for the group; Sheikh Abdiazziz Abu Musa'ab, the group's military spokesman; and Sheikh Mohammed Hassan Omar, known as Mohammed Abu Abdirahman, the commander for Mogadishu.
"Ahmed Godane has ignored calls for him to step down as leader of the group, as he alleged that the emir loses his position only by death, but cannot resign or be forced to step down," the commander told Sabahi. "This has resulted in mutiny. Orders given to two of our leaders, Mukhtar Robow and Hassan Dahir, to eliminate some of the group's foreign fighters accused of spying were ignored."
In April, reports emerged that al-Shabaab executed US-born jihadist Omar Hammami, known as Abu Mansoor al-Amriki, based on order from Godane. Although Hammami was reportedly sighted alive, al-Shabaab never issued a comment on his status, fuelling reports of deep fissures within the group.
Al-Shabaab's alliance with al-Qaeda also triggered dissent among al-Shabaab leaders, the commander said.
"We also refused to appoint foreigners as senior leaders, to merge al-Shabaab with al-Qaeda, and to kill innocent people without any just cause," he said. "We opposed suicide attacks and the targeting of civilians and relief workers."
Militarily, the al-Qaeda-allied group is facing a deep crisis after losing Afgoye and its outskirts, and seems to be on the verge of losing the port of Kismayo, which serves as its financial hub.
Agey said the Somali army, with support from the African forces, will co-ordinate high level attacks in the next couple of weeks in an attempt to detain al-Shabaab's leaders.
"Al-Qaeda is suffering from a series of setbacks. We have recently managed to achieve success because we entered their strongholds and they were unable to stop us," he told Sabahi. "We are well aware of the deep divisions within this radical group and we will be able to seize cities under their control very soon."
Agey said al-Shabaab elements are escaping to the Golis Mountains and to southern Yemen.
He said al-Shabaab is in an unenviable position and dying as a group, as some of its members have expressed dissatisfaction with the group's performance.
Joint operations by the Somali army and AMISOM have recently increased across Somalia, resulting in the deaths and injuries of many fighters from the al-Qaeda-affiliated group.
General Abdi Mahdi Abdisalam, operations commander for the Somali army in Lower Juba region, said al-Shabaab is worried about government troops' victories in the Lower Shabelle and Lower Juba regions.
"Our troops will advance and we will move on the ground to take over all their barracks in the Lower Shabelle region until we are able to advance towards Kismayo," he said in a telephone interview from the recently captured Afmadow. "We will very soon and without a doubt be victorious. This is because [al-Shabaab] are headed towards financial collapse, as they have drained their coffers and resources, not to mention a shortage of ammunition that has hindered their defences and the absence of a safe haven to which they can turn."
The Somali government recently announced it will offer up to $500 for citizens who come forward with information leading to the arrest or killing of members of al-Shabaab. Some former al-Shabaab leaders have also announced their willingness to condemn and renounce the group, and asked for the Somali people's forgiveness.
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![Suspected al-Shabaab members sit on a truck after being rounded up by Somali troops during an operation to flush out al-Shabaab elements in Elasha Biyaha on Saturday (June 2nd). The group has experienced a string of losses recently, including Afmadow, Afgoye and other strongholds. [Mohamed Abdiwahab/AFP]](http://sabahionline.com/shared/images/2012/06/04/somalia-elasha-shabaab-340_227.jpg)
Suspected al-Shabaab members sit on a truck after being rounded
up by Somali troops during an operation to flush out al-Shabaab
elements in Elasha Biyaha on Saturday (June 2nd). The group has
experienced a string of losses recently, including Afmadow, Afgoye and
other strongholds. [Mohamed Abdiwahab/AFP]
![Suspected al-Shabaab members sit on a truck after being rounded up by Somali troops during an operation to flush out al-Shabaab elements in Elasha Biyaha on Saturday (June 2nd). The group has experienced a string of losses recently, including Afmadow, Afgoye and other strongholds. [Mohamed Abdiwahab/AFP]](http://sabahionline.com/shared/images/2012/06/04/somalia-elasha-shabaab.jpg)
A group of high ranking al-Shabaab commanders are currently meeting in the village of Janaale in Lower Shabelle to form a new breakaway movement with support from some Somali tribes, with the aim to engage in political negotiations with Somali government officials after the August deadline for ending transitional rule.
The dissenting leaders include Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, who recently issued public statements accusing other al-Shabaab leaders of shedding the blood of Muslims and murdering innocent civilians in the name of Islam.
Others include Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Ali, known as Abu Mansur; Sheikh Mohammed Ibrahim, known as Bilal; Sheikh Hassan Yaqub, responsible for Kismayo, which AMISOM forces say will fall within weeks.
Other regional al-Shabaab commanders meeting in Janaal include: Sheikh Yusuf Isse, known as Kaba-kutukade and responsible for Middle Shabelle; Sheikh Mohammed Abdullahi Hirey, alias Sheikh Mohammed Abu Abdalla, in charge of Lower Shabelle; Sheikh Yusuf Ali Ugaas from Hiran; Sheikh Ali Mohammed Hussein, a former al-Shabaab leader in Mogadishu; and Sheikh Abdifatah Mohammed Ali, the former treasurer of the dissolved Hizbul Islam.
The commanders are currently finalising an official position for the new alliance, which they may announce within a few weeks, the al-Shabaab commander said.
He said another meeting is ongoing in Barawe, Lower Shabelle, among more radical leaders of al-Shabaab. They include: Ahmed Abdi Godane, known as Sheikh Mukhtar Abdirahman Abu al-Zubair, the emir of al-Shabaab; his deputy, Mahad Warsame Qaleey, also known as Mahad Karateey; Sheikh Fuad Mohammed Khalaf, also known as Fuad Shongole, responsible for advocacy and propaganda; Sheikh Hussein Ali Fiidow, responsible for policy and regional affairs; Sheikh Ali Mahamoud Rage, known as Ali Dheere, official spokesman for the group; Sheikh Abdiazziz Abu Musa'ab, the group's military spokesman; and Sheikh Mohammed Hassan Omar, known as Mohammed Abu Abdirahman, the commander for Mogadishu.
"Ahmed Godane has ignored calls for him to step down as leader of the group, as he alleged that the emir loses his position only by death, but cannot resign or be forced to step down," the commander told Sabahi. "This has resulted in mutiny. Orders given to two of our leaders, Mukhtar Robow and Hassan Dahir, to eliminate some of the group's foreign fighters accused of spying were ignored."
In April, reports emerged that al-Shabaab executed US-born jihadist Omar Hammami, known as Abu Mansoor al-Amriki, based on order from Godane. Although Hammami was reportedly sighted alive, al-Shabaab never issued a comment on his status, fuelling reports of deep fissures within the group.
Al-Shabaab's alliance with al-Qaeda also triggered dissent among al-Shabaab leaders, the commander said.
"We also refused to appoint foreigners as senior leaders, to merge al-Shabaab with al-Qaeda, and to kill innocent people without any just cause," he said. "We opposed suicide attacks and the targeting of civilians and relief workers."
Al-Shabaab members fear the 'unknown future'
General Abdullahi Ali Agey, commander of the second regiment in the Somali army, said al-Shabaab members fear an unknown future because they sense radical changes to restore the government structure and strengthen military and security institutions based on the Roadmap.Militarily, the al-Qaeda-allied group is facing a deep crisis after losing Afgoye and its outskirts, and seems to be on the verge of losing the port of Kismayo, which serves as its financial hub.
Agey said the Somali army, with support from the African forces, will co-ordinate high level attacks in the next couple of weeks in an attempt to detain al-Shabaab's leaders.
"Al-Qaeda is suffering from a series of setbacks. We have recently managed to achieve success because we entered their strongholds and they were unable to stop us," he told Sabahi. "We are well aware of the deep divisions within this radical group and we will be able to seize cities under their control very soon."
Agey said al-Shabaab elements are escaping to the Golis Mountains and to southern Yemen.
He said al-Shabaab is in an unenviable position and dying as a group, as some of its members have expressed dissatisfaction with the group's performance.
Joint operations by the Somali army and AMISOM have recently increased across Somalia, resulting in the deaths and injuries of many fighters from the al-Qaeda-affiliated group.
General Abdi Mahdi Abdisalam, operations commander for the Somali army in Lower Juba region, said al-Shabaab is worried about government troops' victories in the Lower Shabelle and Lower Juba regions.
"Our troops will advance and we will move on the ground to take over all their barracks in the Lower Shabelle region until we are able to advance towards Kismayo," he said in a telephone interview from the recently captured Afmadow. "We will very soon and without a doubt be victorious. This is because [al-Shabaab] are headed towards financial collapse, as they have drained their coffers and resources, not to mention a shortage of ammunition that has hindered their defences and the absence of a safe haven to which they can turn."
The Somali government recently announced it will offer up to $500 for citizens who come forward with information leading to the arrest or killing of members of al-Shabaab. Some former al-Shabaab leaders have also announced their willingness to condemn and renounce the group, and asked for the Somali people's forgiveness.
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