SECURITY BRIEF
Somali’s National Security Chief General Abdirahman Sheikh Issa Mohamed has warned that Al-Shabaab terrorist group and Nigeria’s Boko Haram are believed to be sharing tactics.
Somali’s president while at a security convection in Germany recently said that Boko Haram were trained in Somalia. General Abdirahman Sheikh Issa Mohamed has stressed the president’s sentiment saying there is a possibility that Boko Haram fighters are crossing Africa to reach Somalia and receive training from Al-Shabaab.
According to the General who is also the national security adviser to Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Boko Haram fighters received military training in the country between 2010 and 2012. They received training in south and central Somalia, areas that were previously held by Al-Shabaab, he added.
The General has warned that they believe Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram operatives are still ‘sharing tactical operational skills’ besides maintaining ‘cyber and physical contact’.
Boko Haram as well as Al-Shabaab militant groups are battling their governments with intention of imposing strict version of Islamic law or Sharia.
Boko Haram which pledged allegiance to the Middle East-based Islamic State in 2014 has expanded foothold in neighbouring countries including Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Mali.
JIHADIST GROUPS WEAKENED
Boko Haram terrorist group is known to kidnap women and children whom at time use as human shields during attacks. However, some experts believe Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab have weakened considerably after intensive military offensives going on the respective countries forcing the militant groups to change tactics.
In Nigeria, the capacity of Boko Haram group to take territories has seriously been threatened with the onslaught by the Nigerian military.
In Somalia, Al Shabaab has also lost key towns, localities and strategic port cities since the Somali National Army backed by AU troops conducted a sustained campaign against areas occupied by its fighters.
Somali’s General added that the Somali government is engaged in intensive ideological warfare against Al-Shabaab by waging a religious campaign intended to show the average citizens that Al-Shabaab is neither Somali nor Muslim but a criminal outfit.
