Al-Shabaab has increased its presence in northeastern Somalia, according to reports by security authorities in the region.
Authorities believe that the Islamist militia is on the verge of moving into the troubled Ethiopian region of Somali too.
Furthermore, the Al-Qaeda linked group could spread its wings into Somaliland, which has been relatively peaceful and secure compared to the rest of the Horn of Africa region.
Al-Shabaab is taking advantage of the fact that Somalia is mostly focused on the upcoming elections scheduled for later this year.
Added to that is the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has stretched the resources of the country beyond limit.
Evidence of its growing presence in the region is clear in the campaign of assassination that it has embarked on in Somalia’s semiautonomous state of Puntland.
In the recent five months, the militants have killed more than 40 leading politicians, security officers, and civilians in northeastern Somalia.