Al-Shabaab's Zakat (religious) chief Suldan Mohamed may have been promoted from just an overseer of mandatory religious tax to one of senior officers.
In a video released by the militants, Wednesday, reports VOA's Harun Maruf, Mohamed is seen wearing military gears and no longer comments on social issues.
The latest date could be an indication of succession politics within the Al-Shabaab militants with deep divisions reported in the past few months.
"Suldan Aala Mohamed, Al-Shabab’s longtime zakat Chief is likely playing a more influential role in the group’s leadership. Aala Mohamed doesn’t cover his face; in the latest AS video he’s wearing military clothing, and it’s the 1st time I see him commenting on non-social issues," he said.
In the recent past, cases of Al-Shabaab using moderates to infiltrate areas occupied by KDF and Ethiopian forces have increased, leading to unprecedented attacks.
Islamic scholar Christopher Anzalone opines that the success in collection of Zakat has enabled Al-Shabaab to fund her intelligence operations, infiltrating areas occupied by AMISOM forces.
"Adding to its more extensive taxation, courts, and continued ability to penetrate even the most 'secured' areas of Somalia, Al-Shabab adds intelligence to the list of areas where it often outclasses the internationally-backed Federal Government," he says.
Former Deputy Intelligence General Abdalla Abdallah Mohamed, says the government needs to make a “political decision” to fight al-Shabab infiltrators.
“Top national leaders need to take a decision against the danger they are sitting on before it explodes on them,” he said. “Terrorists are like a bomb that can explode any time. If they can’t take a decision these problems will continue.”