The extremist Islamist group in Somalia, Al-Shabab has widened its regional threat and has included Eritrea for the first time.
A group Al-Shabab was rallying in Marka of Lower Shebelle, Southern Somalia, today in apparent show of solidarity with the Palestinian Muslims, on the one hand, and in opposition to Israeli government forces recent mosque occupation in Jerusalem, on the other hand.
In the event, Al-Shabab’s senior official, Shiekh Suldaan Mohmed Aalla Mohamed spoke of Al-Shabab’s ambition of reaching out to areas around in the region. Included, in the list of countries he mentioned is Eritrea, a country that has been criticized internationally for supporting extremists that fight the Somali government.
Shiekh Mohamed Aalla said today that the world of infidels has formed the United Nations to jointly stand against Muslims. He called on the muslim leadership all over the world to join forces to defeat the infidels. Mohamed Aalla also declared that al-Shabab is on the way of reaching out to all the eight regions of the Horn of Africa. “You the infidels, we are on our way. We are on our way to Puntland; we are on our way to Somaliland, to Djibouti, to Ethiopia, to Eritrea, to Sudan, to Ghana, to Uganda, to Burundi and to Kenya.”
It is not clear whether the inclusion of Eritrea in Al-Shabab’s rhetoric symbolizes a sign of policy change on the part of Al-Shabab towards Eritrea and vice versa. It is to be recalled that Hizbul Islam, another insurgent group believed to have closer ties with Eritrean government is in fall-out with Al-Shabab recently. Both groups seemed no longer able to coordinate their fighting against the Somali government and, in fact have turned their guns against each other in a number of incidences.
Uganda and Burundi have elevated their security posture to an alert status following recent Al-Shabab threats targeting both countries.
