Key Highlights
- The Al-Qaeda branch in Somalia continue to record sporadic attacks from across Somalia regions.
- Intelligence reports shows that Al-Shabaab has infiltrated key government institutions, financial institutions, businesses and communication companies.
- Intelligence assets warns that Al-Shabaab infiltration in Somalia’s key institution contributes negatively on counterterrorism gains.
- The fear of Al-Shabaab’s infiltration Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) has prompted Forum for National Parties (FNP) which comprises six opposition parties, to demand a total overhaul of the spy agency NISA on claims that it harbors and supports covertly Al-Shabaab operatives and sympathizers.
The Horn of Africa Nation for more than a decade has struggled to contain the menace of the Al-Qaeda aligned Al-Shabaab. Despite concerted counterterrorism efforts from allied actors supporting the weak Somalia army, Al-Shabaab continues to record attacks from across Somalia regions.
Al-Shabaab has been able to successfully wage its insurgency in Somalia, thanks to the group’s tactic of infiltrating Somalia’s key institutions. Ranging from government institutions to key businesses and Telecoms, Al-Shabaab has been able to infiltrate in these institutions and subsequently has been able to wreaked havoc by waging attacks against the peacekeepers, government operatives. Somali innocent civilians have been the ones who have suffered most in this insurgency.
Al-Shabaab maintains control of large swathes or rural central and southern Somalia. Statistics from Military Intelligence actors’ points that, Al-Shabaab insurgency has killed over 4,000 civilians and some hundreds of security forces over the years.
Its also noteworthy supportive efforts from militaries from U.S. and AMISOM (African Union Troop) have seen tremendous gains made against the Islamists Al-Shabaab. For example, Al-Shabaab has lost key towns to the Somali army following back up of U.S. forces and 22,500 AMISOM troops. The most recent town to be liberated was Janaale town, in Lower Shabelle, about 95 kilometers South-West of Mogadishu. Janaale is approximately 14 kilometers off the Coastal city and Regional Capital of Marka.
Infiltration Drawback
Key institutions in Somalia supporting Al-Shabaab’s operations have significantly contributed to the groups victories and thus hugely causing a huge drawback to counterterrorism gains already made.
Among institutions pointed to have an underhand operation in Al-Shabaab’s activities is the Somalia’s spy agency, NISA. NISA has been accused by counterterrorism actors in Somalia to provide financial support to the militant group.
Six opposition parties in Somalia have accused agents embedded within NISA of supporting Al-Shabaab operations besides harboring them and their sympathisers. The Forum for National Parties (FNP) have demanded the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) to overhaul NISA and stop the eroding credibility of the country spy agency.
FNP also called on Mogadishu to reinstate NISA professional who previously have been expunged under unclear circumstances. They noted it’s a concern, lately of increased reports and information linking NISA with Al-Shabaab.
FNP also demanded immediate investigations to alleged communications between NISA officials and two top Al-Shabaab commanders, adding that “the report should be made public” once concluded.
In another recent report, NISA has been linked to a number of misfortunes befalling on AMISOM troops. NISA has been accused of sharing intelligence briefs with the militants besides financing them and subsequently, has been able to leash successful attacks on AMISOM troops.
That notwithstanding, FGS has vehemently defended NISA through the Ministry of Information terming the reports as allegations and ‘cheap propaganda’.
Al-Shabaab has been able to amass finances from business from the areas under their control in exchange of protection. Through threats, Al-Shabaab has been to extort money to finance its ambitious operations of ousting the FGS.
Key companies among them, Somalia’s largest Telecommunication Company, Hormuud Telecom, has severally been linked in supporting Al-Shabaab’s operations. Al-Shabaab has embedded operatives with the Telcom company to help them accomplishing their agenda. Besides Al-Shabaab receives huge funding from the telecommunication company that also for a number of times has refuted claims of collaborating with Al-Shabaab Islamists.
Finally, Al-Shabaab through elders have been able to infiltrate other top government institutions, including the Parliament. The militant group has managed to maneuver around to Parliament, through the weak clan-based system used to elect MPs in every election cycle, according to recent credible intelligence reports.
Elders, who are crucial in the selection of leaders, have severally been used as a weak link to pave way for the militant’s dominance in parliament, where key policies and laws are done, further drawing back gains made against the jihadist group.
With AMISOM anticipated withdrawal of its troops by 2021 and handing the security responsibilities to Somali National Army, its worrisome and questionable with the current infiltration by the militants will ever Somalia achieve the much-desired peace and stability.
