A former Al-Shabaab operative within Somalia was on Sunday assassinated outside a mosque in what could be a retaliatory attack, it has emerged.
Omar Yaqinudin defected from the militant group over a year ago and was reportedly leading a quiet life due to threats poised by the Islamic group.
According to the reports, Omar was a Da'wa within the Al-Shabaab, a title given to religious leaders. He was killed outside a mosque according to VOA journalist Harun Maruf.
"Defector and former Al-Shabaab Da’wa official Omar “Yaqinudin” assassinated in Kismayo Sunday evening as he left a mosque - Reports. Yaqinudin defected a year ago and was leading an almost anonymous life in the town," he said.
This comes just few days after two Al-Shabaab militants surrended to the KDF team within Gedo region. They have been waging attacks against security forces.
Mr Guliye Hared and Abdalle Ibrahim have been linked to serious attacks targeting KDF and SNA military bases within Jubaland state.
In 2016, KDF lost over 200 soldiers when Al-Shabaab militants ran over El Adde camp within Gedo region. A year later, over 70 soldiers were killed at Kulbiyow military base, still within Gedo.
The two have been on the run before surrending to military forces. While the military commanders paraded them on Thursday, it's not clear when they surrendered.
"Military commanders in Garbaharey town (Gedo region) displayed two defectors from Al-Shabaab on Thursday," reports indicated.
"Guliye Hared Muhumed and Abdalle Nasiri Ibrahim surrendered to the authorities according to state media. Report didn’t say when the surrender took place."
Kenya Defense Forces team mans Jubaland region which is under former Ras Kamboni Brigade commander Sheikh Islam Ahmed Madobe.
Incidentally, the progress on the fight against Al-Shabaab comes hours after federal government lifted flight ban imposed on Jubaland administration.
President Mohammed Farmaajo had banned direct flights to Kismayo Airport amid fallout with Madobe, who he accuses of being imposed by KDF troops.
"Somali goverment fully lifts all travel restrictions imposed on Jubaland state ahead of Madobe's innaguration following pressure from former presidents and Int'l community," Garowe Online reports.
The standoff had threatened to water down the gains made by AMISOM troops in the fight against Al-Shabaab within Jubaland, after KDF threatened to pull out.
Despite the ban, a host of officials flew from Nairobi directly to Kismayo Airport on Saturday for Madobe's inauguration, forcing Somalia to report Kenya to International Civil Aviations Authority.
Al-Shabaab militants have been losing ground steadily in Jubaland, with KDF remaining with just two years before the formal withdrawal according to AU plan.