In a significant development, a high-ranking Al-Shabaab official has surrendered to Somali government forces as the country intensifies its military operations across various regions. The government’s efforts aim to reclaim strategic towns previously controlled by militants and safeguard innocent civilians and security personnel.
The government unveiled the defector at Wisil town in the Mudug region, following a tactical withdrawal of security forces from multiple frontlines after a recent ambush by Al-Shabaab in Oswein resulted in substantial losses. The defector was identified as Nur Abdullahi Maalinguur, also known as Nur Deeq, according to reports from Voice of America. Nur Deeq was the Al-Shabaab commander in the Mudug region, an area where the extremist group had been gaining ground in recent months.
Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Reconciliation, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, highlighted Nur Deeq’s involvement in the group’s activities, including making threatening phone calls to business communities, traditional elders, and other community members. Al-Shabaab has long sustained itself through extortion, generating millions of dollars to finance its operations. Fiqi stated, “This surrender means that Al-Shabaab’s morale is low, and a thorn has been removed from Mudug.”
The U.S. State Department estimates that Al-Shabaab militants generate up to $120 million annually, with a significant portion, approximately $24 million, allocated for the purchase of weapons. The remaining funds are used for logistics and paying fighters.
Meanwhile, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud emphasized that military operations against Al-Shabaab would continue until a final victory is achieved. His statement followed the recent retreat of government troops from several towns after a deadly attack by Al-Shabaab in Cowsweyne village. Mohamud affirmed, “We will achieve the final victory that we seek. Victory is in our grasp.”
Mohamud praised the government soldiers and local fighters who have played a crucial role in dislodging Al-Shabaab from various areas since the offensive began last year. He refuted Al-Shabaab’s claim that 178 soldiers were killed in the Cowsweyne attack, asserting that the group had lost 190 fighters and buried them in mass graves. However, these casualty claims from both sides have not been independently verified.
The Al-Shabaab militant group, following their claimed “historic victory” in Cowsweyne, led to government forces retreating from four towns, which the militants asserted to have recaptured.
Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed called for an investigation into the management of military operations at the Cowsweyne frontline and urged a parliamentary subcommittee for defense to conduct an inquiry. In response, President Mohamud pledged accountability for any mistakes made by soldiers or officers.
As the government intensifies its efforts against Al-Shabaab, the surrender of a high-ranking official represents a significant development in the ongoing conflict, signaling a potential shift in the balance of power in the region.
