Thursday August 1, 2024
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia's National Security Advisor, Hussein Moalim Mohamud, has downplayed the threat posed by ISIS/Daesh in the country, asserting that the group's presence and influence are far less significant than those of the more entrenched al-Shabab.
He emphasized that ISIS does not have a substantial number of Somali fighters, which limits their impact and confines them to a small area surrounded by Puntland forces and al-Shabab.
Mohamud stated, "It cannot be said that they have a huge power or even reach like al-Shabab. The area they are in is geographically accessible to international jihadists, but no visible and meaningful power can be seen."
The leader of ISIS in Somalia, Abdiqadir Mu'min, has a history of radical activities in the U.K. before joining al-Shabab in 2010. In 2015, he defected to ISIS, attempting to establish a new faction in the Golis mountains. Despite his efforts, the group remains small, with estimates of 100 to 200 fighters, primarily foreigners.
Mu'min has been targeted by U.S. counterterrorism operations, including a recent airstrike in late May 2024, though his fate remains unclear. The U.S. Department of State has labeled Mu'min a "specially designated global terrorist," highlighting the potential threat he poses despite the limited size of his faction.
U.S. officials have affirmed their ongoing commitment to counterterrorism efforts in Somalia, with a particular focus on monitoring and countering ISIS activities. "It's clear that the threat is still real, and we have to still go after it," said White House national security communications adviser John Kirby.