Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has announced another major defection from the al Shabaab. A senior commander within the ranks of al Shabaab has defected and surrendered to NISA and is set to offer critical information about the al Qaeda-affiliated al Shabaab.
Mukhtar Mohamed Abdi aka Mukhtar-Ganey defected to NISA and is said to have been transported to Mogadishu. Abdi was a member of Al-Shabaab’s Jabha forces in Bay and Bakool regions, from 2008 – 2013. He was previously detained by the militant group for links with Abu Mansour Al-Amriki who fell out with Al-Shabaab leadership before his killing in Sept 2013.
The defection comes as intelligence reports indicate an upsurge in infighting within the al Shabaab mainly triggered by increased airstrikes and operations by AMISOM troops. It is expected that more al Shabaab fighters are seeking to defect to SNA and NISA in different parts of Somalia to escape the wrath of suspicion and pointless executions.
