The Somali government today displayed an Al-Shabab commander said to have defected to join the government.
A top Al-Shabab commander who defected to join the Somali government has
told VOA Somali Service that at least one thousand foreign jihadists are
currently fighting alongside Al-Shabab militants. Sheikh Bakistani was
the commander of Maymana brigade (the right side).
Sheikh Mohamed Abdullahi known as “Sheikh Bakistani” said that Kenyans
make half of the foreigners who are fighting in Somalia. He said that
about 450 other foreigners have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh,
Chechnya, Sudan and other African countries.
He said that Al-Shabab’s operations are run by Al-Qaeda. He said he
knows the leader of Al-Shabab, Ahmed Abdi Godane known as “Abu Zubayr”.
“Abu Zubayr’s statements is directed to Osama Bin Laden,” he said
adding, “Al-Shabab are not being run from Somalia, They [Somalis] are
not in charge of whatever operations or attacks that is being conducted…
that is obvious.
One of the advisors of Al-Shabab’s leader is a Somali of Yemeni descent
known as Abu Suleiman al-Banadiri.
He also said that Al-Shabab’s key positions are controlled by
foreigners. The positions within Al-Shabab held by foreign jihadists
include general operations, training, finance, and security and suicide
missions.
Sheikh Bakistani said he believes Saleh Ali Nabhan, the Kenyan national
who was killed by US helicopters in September was the highest ranking
foreign Jihadist fighting in Somalia. Salah Ali Saleh Nabhan is now
being replaced by Abu Musa Mombasa from Kenya, who has just arrived from
Pakistan as head of security and training, Bakistani said.
Abu Mansur Al-Amriki, the American National with Al-Shabab is in charge
of finances for the all the foreigners.
Would be suicide bombers are selected and controlled by Mohamoud
Muhajir, a Sudani national, according the Al-Shabab defector. ‘He throws
head or tales for the would-be bombers, those who miss the chance to
execute a suicide mission weep,” he said.
Sheikh Bakistani defected a month ago but was only displayed to the
media today at a press conference in Mogadishu.
He told VOA Somali Services that he found the suicide missions and
executions unbearable.
“I never wanted to participate suicide operations; I never wanted to
participate in head or tales situation.”
He said his father; a well known religious leader has visited him
several times in Wanlweyn, 90km west of Mogadishu and also convinced him
to defect.
A spokesman for Al-Shabab, Sheikh Ali Mohamed Hussein, has tonight denied that Sheikh Bakistani was a member of Al-Shabab.
A spokesman for Al-Shabab, Sheikh Ali Mohamed Hussein, has tonight denied that Sheikh Bakistani was a member of Al-Shabab.
