Galka’yo ( PP News Desk) — Al-shabaab, a transnational, terrorist organisation based in Somalia, has been operating in Galka’yo since 2007. In the Northern parts of the district under Puntland State of Somalia, Al-shabaaab committed atrocities ranging from targeted assassinations and suicide bombings. There are many interviews with Al-shabaab suspects who were later found guilty and had been executed by North Mudug regional authority of Puntland state. The interview with Anas Abdulqadir, who has several, noms de guerre such as Salman and Abdullahi, gives more insight into how the proscribed outfit commits resources to destabilising North Galka’yo.
“Al-shabaab recruited me in Jilib, was trained in Elbuur and was sent to Galka’yo to assassinate targeted people in North Galka’ayo” Anas told an interviewer.
Anas said that among people he executed was an elder who had selected Putland federal MPs. “He tried to grab my handgun but I shot him several times” he said. The Identification of the victim precedes the assassination. “Al-shabaab can assassinate a person any time, anywhere but an assassin prefers an area with fewer people and less chance of being identified” said Anas.
The criteria for selecting an assassin include agility… cowardice or foolhardiness has disadvantages.” Asked if he would ever assassinate the interviewer, Anas said: “Al-shabaab assassinated many journalists. I visited your Facebook account and saw pictures of you with the soldiers at the battlefield. I would try to assassinate if that was the mission” added Anas, who said he was trained by a Yemeni man before being sent to assassinate elders and politicians in North Galka’yo.
Anas commented on how the people who relay information to him from al-shabaab, and highlighted the compartmentalised nature of Al-shabaab units tasked with identification of a victim, the appointment of an assassin, the collection of intelligence on the person Al-shabaab identifies as the target of assassination by one of its operatives.
Al-shabaab views North Galka’yo as a major threat to its dwindling dominions in other parts of Mudug. In 2026 Puntland repulsed coastal Al-shabaab attack after the terrorist group sent boats full of fighters to Puntland. Al-shabaab has long been seeking a foothold in North Galka’ayo to tax businesses, but its plans have been foiled after Puntland arrested members of a large cell of Al-shabaab operatives in North Galka’ayo.
“That fewer assassinations take place does not mean Al-shabaab is no longer active in Mogadishu. Potential targets have reduced their movements. Al-shabaab sends new operatives even after Puntland arrested former operatives” said Anas.
© Puntland Post, 2023
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