Shabaab factions conflict in Somali mountains

Factions of the Somali militant group al-Shabaab clashed on Sunday in Puntland state, reflecting the continuing quest for territorial supremacy.

Officials reported the clashes inside the Bari area of eastern Somalia between fighters allied to the al-Qaeda terror group and people affiliated with the anti-Islamic State (IS) group all started on Saturday night time and continued into the early hours of Sunday.

The confrontations occurred on the wadi (dry river beds) referred to as Dadamale and Qura’da at a web page referred to as Ja’ayl inside the Bari area of Puntland state of Somalia, over 1,500 km northeast of Mogadishu.

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Both Al-Shabaab and ISIS function inside the wider sub-region referred to as Balli Dhidin with Qandala District inside the Bari Region, significantly between Qandala and Bosaso, the most important port metropolis and business capital of Puntland.

The areas the place the majority of the confrontation had taken place are characterised by dry riverbeds, streams with water currents and mountainous territories the place the militants of equally extremist communities have coexisted.

Qandala District Commissioner Ahmed Yusuf confirmed the clashes to the media.

“The two extremist groups have been coexisting in the area, but it seems they are fighting for territorial control,” reported DC Yusuf, citing reviews from nearby residents inside the mountainous areas who observed the preventing.

Locals advised the media that the preventing in a single day was so intense that it may have induced deaths and accidents.

Sheikh Abdulkadir Mumin’s loyalists break up from Al-Shabaab in 2015 and declared allegiance to IS than led by Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi.

Since then, the communities clashed however individually challenged Puntland’s administration and the practicable presence of Somali National Army forces.

DC Yusuf added, “The situation appears tense, but due to the mountainous nature of the area, the flow of information is limited.”