A high-ranking member of the Al Qaeda affiliate in Somalia; Harakat Al Shabaab al-Mujahideen has defected to the government troops in Lower Shabelle. The commander surrendered himself to the government forces last week in Lower Shabelle adding to the number of al Shabaab commanders who have defected in recent weeks.
The commander identified as Mohamed Abukar Mohamed Dhagole alias Ato has been an instrumental leader and figure in Lower Shabelle and has been a member of the terror organization for close to a decade. He was in charge of the entire Lower Shabelle region and has also been linked to Amniyat in the past which will make him a very important asset in the fight against the group. Finances in al Shabaab are very important aspects of al Shabaab logistics with the major sources being illegal trade, zakat, extortion, and ransom from kidnappings.
Abubakar was on the list of some of the most wanted al Shabaab members in southern and central Somalia and while his reasons for defection are unclear, he is expected to offer insight that could quite possibly decapitate the financial framework of the group. Additionally, the defection of Abubakar is one of many defections from the al Shabaab that is indicative of ongoing friction within the group especially disgruntlement with the leadership and the decisions it has been taking in recent months.
