Subscribe to our newsletters

Sign up to our morning and evening newsletters for Garowe's well curated list of our daily highlights.

Garowe Online
  • Home
  • Somalia
  • World
    • Africa
  • National Security
  • Environment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Cartoons
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Garowe Online
  • Home
  • Somalia
  • World
    • Africa
  • National Security
  • Environment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Cartoons
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
Garowe Online
No Result
View All Result

Al-Shabaab’s No. 2 leader: We are not yet done, we shall conquer Somalia

The US placed a $5 million bounty on Karate's head but efforts to trace him have been futile for a while.

Author
06/16/2022
in National Security, News, Somalia
Reading Time: 2 mins read
13
SHARES
215
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

MOGADISHU, Somalia – In yet another breathtaking interview, a top Al-Shabaab commander has insisted the group is still “very strong” and determined to “take over” the country from the current leadership, arguing that “they have failed to show direction” to the people.

You might also like

A keen look at Somalia’s new cabinet

ISIS turns to Ethiopia for recruitment of new fighters

How women are contributing to Al-Shabaab insurgency in Somalia

For over a decade, the Al-Qaida group which controls large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia has been struggling with the fragile UN-backed Somalia administration, which has struggled to stamp authority in the Horn of Africa nation.

Mahad Karate, the deputy leader of Al-Shabaab who also controls the group’s Intelligence wing known as Amniyat, told Channel 4 News’ Jamal Osman that “we are not yet done and cannot be intimidated”. This was one of the open interviews by the commander in as many months.

Although it’s not clear where their interview was conducted, the surrounding suggests that it could be on a riverside on the outskirts of Jilib town located in Middle Jubba. The town, believed to be impenetrable, has been the capital of the group for years.

The Al-Shabaab commander dismissed Somalia’s government as “weak and inconsequential” and vowed to mobilize “liberation ” soldiers to topple it. He also warned the “foreign troops” against “killing” civilians in the struggling Horn of Africa nation.

When he took over last week as 10th president of the federal republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud insisted that “my first task is to work with stakeholders to defeat Al-Shabaab”. The new president accused the group of extorting local farmers, some of who have since moved to IDP camps.

The president’s announcement came shortly after Pentagon confirmed the redeployment of troops to Somalia as part of President Joe Biden’s counterterrorism approach. The US is expected to deploy close to 500 soldiers, over a year after the troops were repositioned by the Donald Trump administration.

Pentagon said, “our sole aim in Somalia is to support Somali National Army and the African Union Transition Mission by training and equipping them”. The role of US soldiers in Somalia has often been questioned due to casualties emanating from their frequent airstrikes.

Fundamentally, the US Africa Command is critical in training and equipping the Danab Special Forces, a contingent within the Somali National Army. The Danab troops with aerial assistance from the US troops have been instrumental in downing Al-Shabaab militants

Mahad Karate, the senior financial coordinator, has been on US radar for years now, with US troops missing him through airstrikes just like current leader Ahmed Diriye. The US placed a $5 million bounty on his head but efforts to trace him have been futile for a while.

A report published by the United Nations revealed that the Al-Shabaab operatives with a budget of almost $100 million annually, most extortion from local businesses and foreign donations. Of this sum, close to $24 million is set aside for purchasing sophisticated weapons.

The group has persistently targeted security forces, government officials, and civilians within Somalia and across the borders. Kenya, which is one of the African Union Transition Mission [ATMIS] troops contributing nations, is one of the most affected countries by Al-Shabaab raids.

Last month, the militants attacked El-Baraf Forward Operating Base which is manned by Burundian troops, killing over 30 soldiers. The US promised the new administration that it will closely work with native troops to ensure Al-Shabaab is significantly degraded.

GAROWE ONLINE

Tags: Al-ShabaabfeaturedsomaliaUS

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

Share5Tweet3
Previous Post

Ethiopia’s PM Abiy Ahmed to hold secret negotiations with TPLF in Tanzania

Next Post

Somalia: Inside president Hassan Sheikh’s visit to UAE

Recommended For You

A keen look at Somalia’s new cabinet

08/03/2022
A keen look at Somalia’s new cabinet

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Although the main point of focus was anchored in the appointment of Mukhtar Robow, the former Al-Shabaab deputy commander as the new minister for Endowment...

Read more

ISIS turns to Ethiopia for recruitment of new fighters

08/01/2022
ISIS turns to Ethiopia for recruitment of new fighters

NAIROBI, Kenya - Ethiopia could be the latest epicenter of recruitment of terrorists, it has emerged, following competing interests by rivals Al-Shabaab and IS-Somalia, who have been lately...

Read more

How women are contributing to Al-Shabaab insurgency in Somalia

07/28/2022
How women are contributing to Al-Shabaab insurgency in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Although they are sometimes victims of war and other calamities, women could be the people, after all, playing integral roles in the war against the...

Read more

Inside Al-Shabaab’s rare attack near Ethiopia border

07/23/2022
Inside Al-Shabaab’s rare attack near Ethiopia border

MOGADISHU, Somalia - By Friday, authorities in the Somali region of Ethiopia confirmed that over 100 Al-Shabaab militants have been killed within Ethiopia following their strategic crossover to...

Read more

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related News

At least 108 civilians killed this month in Tigray airstrikes: UN

At least 108 civilians killed this month in Tigray airstrikes: UN

01/15/2022
UN presses Somali leaders to make good on election deal

UN presses Somali leaders to make good on election deal

01/10/2022
What Somali president’s policy towards Al-Shabaab is based on?

What Somali president’s policy towards Al-Shabaab is based on?

07/05/2022

Browse by Category

  • Africa
  • Business
  • Business
  • Cartoons
  • Editorial
  • Environment
  • National Security
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Somalia
  • World
Garowe Online

The independent news Web site GaroweOnline.com is the online sister publication of Radio Garowe, a community radio station based in Garowe, the State capital of Puntland, a self-governing region in northern Somalia.

CATEGORIES

  • Africa
  • Business
  • Business
  • Cartoons
  • Editorial
  • Environment
  • National Security
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Somalia
  • World

BROWSE BY TAG

Abdirahman Abdishakur Abiy Ahmed africa Africom Al-Shabaab Al shabaab alshabaab AMISOM ATMIS Biden Danab election elections Eritrea Ethiopia Fahad Yasiin farmajo featured federal Hassan Shiekh Journalist Kenya Madeira mogadishu NISA Oil Parliament Police Puntland roble Rooble Said Dani SNA somalia somaliland Tigray Turkey UAE Ukrain UN US USA Villa Somalia WFP world

Copyright © GAROWONLINE All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Somalia
  • World
    • Africa
  • National Security
  • Environment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Cartoons
  • Sports

Copyright © GAROWONLINE All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In