Al-Shabaab Strikes Deal with Garre Clan; Somali PM Claims 40% Reduction in Group's Influence

by: Horn Observer Contributor | 23 August 2024 02:35

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Al-Shabaab Strikes Deal with Garre Clan; Somali PM Claims 40% Reduction in Group's Influence

MARKA, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) - Just 129 miles from Somali capital, Mogadishu, in the agricultural hub of Lower Shabelle, the small town of Kurtun-Waarey has become the latest focal point in Somalia's ongoing conflict.

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Kurtun-Waarey is 129 miles from Somali capital, Mogadishu.

MARKA, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) - Just 129 miles from Somali capital, Mogadishu, in the agricultural hub of Lower Shabelle, the small town of Kurtun-Waarey has become the latest focal point in Somalia's ongoing conflict.

It is also becoming a breeding ground for Al-Shabaab recruitment.

The Al-Qaeda-linked militant group appears to be gaining strength after resisting a two-year military campaign led by the Somali government and local clans militia known as Ma'awisley

A gathering recently took place in Kurtun-Waarey involving Garre clan elders and Al-Shabaab militants, culminating in a pledge of allegiance, known as 'bay’ah' in Arabic between the clan and the militant group.

Al-Shabaab, which has faced significant military pressure from Somali clans in central regions, is intensifying efforts to win over clans. In Hiiraan, the group recently held meetings with the Hawadle clan, even installing a pro-Shabaab elder to lead them. Similar developments have occurred in the Middle Shabelle.

In Lower Shabelle, the Garre clan, a sub-clan of the Digil-Rahanweyn family, agreed to distance themselves from the Ma’awisley militia. The Garre clan also accused the Somali government of land grabbing, fueling clan conflicts in the region and extortion of businesses, further alienating them from state authorities.

The bay’ah ceremony was broadcast on pro-Al-Shabaab radio, the primary source of information in these rural towns under the group's control, where smartphones are banned, and social media is heavily restricted.

During the several day gathering, Al-Shabaab targeted local elders with hardline ideologies, including teachings from "Al-Wala’ wal Bara’," a Salafi-Wahhabi text promoting disassociation from those who support the government by labeling them as "apostates".

As the Kurtun-Waarey declaration concluded with a promise of "the ship of paradise," as stated by one clan elder who struggled to read the Somali language sentences proficiently, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre addressed government supporters in Mogadishu on Thursday.

He stated that his government's three-front war against Al-Shabaab had reduced the group's influence by 40%. He also noted that last year, religious clerics in Mogadishu issued a fatwa condemning Al-Shabaab.

"The religious clerics made it clear that Al-Shabaab is a Kharije group, and their actions do not align with Sharia," the Prime Minister stated.

However, Abdirahman Mohamud, a counter-terrorism analyst, expressed skepticism about the government's stated progress.

"The rise of Al-Shabaab's engagements with local clans indicates that the government's campaign has not succeeded," he said, pointing to the failure of military efforts and the challenges in countering the group's ideology and financial networks.

Mohamud also highlighted the paradox of using the same clerics to issue fatwas against Al-Shabaab who have historically endorsed extremist views.

"As long as the same clerics and the scripts they once supported continue to be used by Al-Shabaab to justify their agenda, it will be difficult to fight back," he warned.