Wrangling over control of funds has rocked the top leadership of Al-Shabaab. Intelligence reports show that the simmering battle over money threatens the existence of the militia group, which has wrecked havoc in the Horn of Africa nation for years.
Reports seen by Kenya’s Daily Nation, established that top leaders differ on critical issues. Consequently, the report says that a split is imminent. Eventually, the continued split could render the group incapable of carrying out its terror activities.
In February, Garowe Online gathered reports from multiple sources showing that Ahmed Diriye alias Abu Ubaidah, the de facto leader of the extremist group, expelled Mahad Karate and Bashir Qorgab from Al-Shabaab.
Karate works for Al-Shabaab as the head of finance and intelligence operations. On the other hand, Qorgab is the group’s chief of external operations. They did not welcome the decision by Diriye to expel them from the group.
According to Ubaidah, Diriye has hoarded all the money raised from taxing local farmers, businesspersons, and herders in areas that are under the control of Al-Shabaab. In recent weeks, however, Al-Shabaab has been losing its grip in many of these places.