Al-Shabaab spending millions to remove a governor who fought against it

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Al-Shabaab seeks the governor of the Hiiraan region to be sacked for his commitment to eliminating the terrorists has "provoked" the group, a top official disclosed. 

Mohamed Abdi Waare, the former president of HirShabelle state, says Ali Jeyte Osman, who has been fighting the militants on the battlefield, is now the key target, with Al-Shabaab allegedly contributing millions of dollars with the sole purpose of dethroning him from his current position.

Waare, who is the current Special Presidential Envoy for Civilian Protection and Stabilization, said the militants are spending millions to replace the governor, who has been instrumental in kicking out the militants. Jeyte has led several battles that saw the liberation of key ground since 2022.

He also warned that replacing Jeyte at this time would provide aid and comfort to Shabaab. The militants always target people believed to be against their course and at times, they plot assassination against them.

Waare added, "President Ali Guudlaaw, leave Governor Jeyte alone." Waare's warning comes at a time of strong conflict between Governor Jeyte and the leaders of Hirshabeelle, related to the Hirshabelle centralized tax collection plan.

Three men were at the center of the war on Al-Shabaab in the Hiran region, two of them elder Hagar and Danab's deputy Commander Hassan Ture were killed on the frontlines. Now, Al-Shabaab making all that it can to remove Governor Jeyte from the battlefield. 

Somalia is set to go for the second phase of operations against Al-Shabaab and Governor Jeyte has been instrumental in the coordination of the crackdown against the militants. Al-Shabaab is fighting for its dominance in central and southern Somalia which they have considerably lost.

GAROWE ONLINE