Informed sources say more than 10 top officials including among others Sheikh Hassan Abdullahi Al-Turki, who recently joined ditched Hizbul Islam and Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Abu Mansur held town close door meetings, which the local media was barred from covering.

Sources, who requested not to be named, told Garowe Online that the officials were deliberating on how to counter possible government offensives on the group’s positions in the war-torn country.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Abu Mansur says his group is not planning to carry out attacks on its neighbor Kenya but requested Nairobi to stop military maneuvering along the border.  

“We are not planning to wage war against Kenya, we are more focused on ensuring security in our areas. But if we come under attack, then we must defend ourselves,” he told crowd in Kismayo.

Kenya, which officially closed its borders with Somalia in late 2006, has strengthened its border patrol after previously receiving threats from the Somalia-based Islamist groups.

GAROWE ONLINE