A high-ranking member of Somali armed group Al Shabaab has announced allegiance to ISIS, a move that further fractures the Somali-based Al Qaida affiliate group and spreads the reach of ISIS farther into Africa.
Sheikh Abdulqadir Mumin offered his support to ISIS in a video that is to be posted online according to intelligence source.
The group, which is also fighting to topple Somali government since 2006, pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda in 2012.
Sources within Somalia’s security department estimate that about 100 fighters would likely defect to ISIS, among the estimated 1,400-strong insurgent group.
However there are significant number of fighters and key leaders who are opposed to the idea of joining ISIL global network.
Minister for Internal Security Abdirizack Mohammed has last week ruled out Al Shabaab rumours of joining Islamic state saying its diminishing and has no influence to join ISIL
With in the region.
