Report Warns of Growing Threat from Somalia’s Islamist State with Financial Assets and Clan Backing

GAROWE, Somalia (AXADLE) – There’s a new twist in Somalia’s ongoing unrest. According to a fresh report from the International Crisis Group, the Islamic State in Somalia (IS-Somalia) has been beefing up its coffers and building clan support, even though its operational muscle remains pretty lean.

Being smaller fish in the jihadist pond compared to Al-Shabaab, IS-Somalia has still managed to make waves both locally and on the global stage.

Nesting in the craggy nooks of Puntland’s Bari province, IS-Somalia doesn’t look like a massive threat to Somalia’s overall security right now. But make no mistake—it’s part of the bigger Islamic State jig.

The group’s knack for pulling in cash, especially through shakedowns, has helped it funnel money to Islamic State crews all over, including places as far-flung as Afghanistan.

“Al-Shabaab and Puntland’s bigwigs have squeezed its expansion but not snuffed it out,” the report notes. “With the Islamic State stumbling in Syria and Iraq, it’s turning to Africa, and IS-Somalia is adding weight to its operations.”

Leadership and Regional Influence

At the helm of IS-Somalia is Abduqadir Mumin, who’s thought to be steering Islamic State’s moves across Africa too. His potential rise within the jihadist pecking order hints that IS-Somalia might become a heavyweight in the global jihad game beyond Somalia’s borders.

This rise is partly thanks to spats between Somalia’s federal chiefs in Mogadishu and Puntland authorities over who gets what. These tiffs, especially since May 2022, have opened doors for IS-Somalia to dig in its heels.

“IS-Somalia has around 500 fighters, scattered in Puntland’s Bari rocks,” the report clarifies. “Rough guess—half of them hail from foreign lands.”

Recruitment’s no walk in the park, mainly because of Al-Shabaab contesting for recruits and IS-Somalia’s limited clan base. Yet, disillusioned Al-Shabaab defectors from East Africa, along with foreign fighters from Yemen and other Arab countries, have trickled in, albeit at a slower pace.

A Financial Hub for Islamic State in Africa

Even with its limited turf and occasional skirmishes, IS-Somalia acts as a financial linchpin in the wider Islamic State web across Africa. Its fundraising chops have given it a lot of clout. In 2020, Islamic State rejigged its African setup, naming Puntland as the HQ for its East African sidekicks. Here, IS-Somalia is led by Al Karrar—a guy overseeing operations in places like Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Al Karrar, under Mumin’s command, is a cash conduit, moving money around IS-linked groups.

In Puntland and Mogadishu, IS-Somalia rakes in dough through extortion in Bosasso port and from low-key gold trading. The U.S. reckons IS-Somalia has pocketed around $6 million since 2022, mostly through these ventures.

Geography and Clan Ties Offer Protection

A bunch of factors keep IS-Somalia afloat, despite efforts to sink it. Operating in the remote, harsh mountains east of Bosasso, where the government’s reach is thin, gives IS-Somalia a bolthole safe from both Somali authorities and rival jihadist squads. Puntland’s prime spot at Africa’s Horn, near established smuggling lanes on the Gulf of Aden, offers links to the broader Islamic State world and supplies through shady trades.

Clan loyalties also bolster IS-Somalia’s resilience. The Ali Salebaan clan, a small sub-clan of Daarood/Majerteen, controls the group’s leadership. This clan has long had bones to pick with the Puntland government, especially against the rival Mohamud Salebaan clan, helping IS-Somalia gain local backing.

Political Disputes Counterterrorism Efforts

The growing divide between Puntland’s government and Somalia’s central authority has made combating IS-Somalia trickier. Puntland froze cooperation with Mogadishu in early 2023, accusing the central government of hogging power at the expense of the country’s federal states.

“With IS’s global network digging in deeper in Somalia, the Somali government and Puntland’s administration need to bury the hatchet. They must join forces against IS-Somalia, encourage defections, and address the gripes of the communities sheltering IS-Somalia,” recommends the Crisis Group.