Al Shabaab militia group based in Somalia could be in their final stages of deciding whether to pledge an allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or to stick to al-Qaeda.
Al-Qaeda which has been the mother front of Al-Shabaab was also the genesis of the Islamic State before ISIS leader Abu Bakar al-Baghdadi got into a misunderstanding with the al-Qaeda leader, leading to the formation of ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
Since then, ISIS has become the world’s most feared jihadist group due to its atrocities and their spread of propaganda.
According to credible sources Shabab militants are divided over whether to maintain their allegiance to al-Qaeda or shift to Islamic State (IS).
The division comes at a time when al-Shabab is suspected to be loosing ground in Somalia following their cowardice act of kidnapping and killing Kenyan Mandera chief.
The group had demanded for ransom which intelligence experts say is a strategy used by militants to acquired funds for their terror activities.
Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has attracted Boko Haram from Nigeria and now Shabaab. These two jihadists have been fearlessly fought to a point of losing battle in their strategic bases.
Also Read: AL Shabaab is Becoming Weaker and Losing Ground in Somalia
Intelligence experts are urging Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and other troops fighting al-Shabaab to intensify this war in Somalia, along the Kenya-Somali border and to the Northern parts of Somalia.
“These jihadists are desperate. They have lost ground in Somalia. They have run out of arms and ammunitions thus the call for a “stronger” militant group to support them in their terror activities,” echoes a Kenyan intelligence expert.
Al-Qaeda’s latest territorial gain in Yemen could be posing another threat to Africa. AQAP, the strongest of al-Qaida’s franchises could be passing a message to Shabab indicating that they still strong and able to support them (Shabab).
The Gulf of Aden could play a mojor role in linking up these militants to Africa. More security should therefore be sent to the Horn of Africa to deter these groups from invading Kenya through Somalia.
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