div>Mogadishu (dpa) – At least six militants were killed Wednesday in infighting between fighters loyal to the East African Islamist group al-Shabaab and a newly formed wing that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State movement.
Meanwhile, at least five people were killed when a suicide bomber targeted a convoy of African Union and Somali troops Wednesday in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region, officials and witnesses said.
The intra-jihadist fighting broke out in Gambare, a village near Saakow town, 480 kilometres south of Mogadishu, when an Islamic State supporter tried to raise a flag, a senior Somali intelligence officer told dpa on condition of anonymity.
“Al-Shabaab’s differences on [Islamic State] issues are out of control,” the officer said in Mogadishu.
One of those killed in the skirmish was Sheikh Bashir, a senior Islamist member who had joined the Islamic State group.
Pro Islamic State members were ultimately overpowered by al-Shabaab fighters who are loyal to the Somali group’s leadership and rival jihadist network al-Qaeda.
“This is an initial crackdown against a small group who declared officially their allegiance with Islamic State,” the officer said.
Sheikh Abdulkadir Mumin, a prominent al-Shabaab figure who had lived in Britain, announced recently that he and other militants had opted to join forces with Islamic State.
In early November, pro al-Shabaab radio Andalus quoted the group’s spokesman, Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage Alias Ali Dhere, warning against spoilers whose aim is to divide Muslims in Somalia.
“We will not let the spoilers do their bad business. … We are committed to prevent anyone from dividing the Muslims,” Ali Dhere said.
The United States offered Tuesday of rewards of up to 27 million dollars for information on six “key leaders” in al-Shabaab.
Al-Shabaab is a militant group seeking an Islamist state in Somalia. It controlled most of southern and central Somalia and parts of Mogadishu in 2009-10 before being driven out of key cities.
The attack follows the United States offer Tuesday of rewards of up to 27 million dollars combined for information on six “key leaders” in al-Shabaab.
Wednesday’s suicide attack on the convoy of African Union and Somali troops occurred about 5:30 pm (1430 GMT) near Afgoye town, 30 kilometres south-west of Mogadishu, Lower Shabelle administration spokesman Mohamed Hussein Shine.
“There are casualties among civilians and Somali government soldiers,” Shine said.
The bomber appeared to be targeting a regional leader of Somalia’s south-western state, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, who was unharmed in the attack.
“The blast sent a plume of black smoke over the whole area and could be heard far areas in the region,” witness Khalif Osman told dpa.
A Somali intelligence officer who said he was traveling in the same convoy told dpa that specially trained Somali security members from the country’s National Intelligence and Security Agency foiled what looked like a terrorist attack.
“The terrorists wanted to take many lives including the South-western state president, Mr Sharif, but our security forces had fired on the suicide car bomber and denied him to come close or hit the convoy,” said the security officer, who asked not to be named.
Armed Islamist group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack on its allied broadcaster Andalus, saying the bomber killed more than 10 Somali and AU troops. Somali government officials denied the death toll was that high.
Al-Shabaab is seeking an Islamist state in Somalia. It controlled most of southern and central Somalia and parts of Mogadishu in 2009-10 before being driven out of key cities.
Source: dpa