A Director to Somali regional leader's office has reportedly joined Al-Shabaab militants amid ongoing cold war between Kenya Defense Forces and Somalia federal government.
Mr Omar Ahmed, media reports claim, defected on Tuesday from government after serving three months as director to the region leader of Hirshabelle.
His defection comes amid claims that some government workers have been spying for Al-Shabaab militants, a claim that has also implicated MPs.
"Director to Somali regional leader’s office “defects” to Al-Shabaab, per militant media.
"Hassan Omar Ahmed “Hassan Mahdi” told Al-Shabaab media that he has worked with the leader of Hirshabelle regional Admin Mohamed Abdi Waare for 3 months but decided to resign from the Admin," said VOA journalist Harun Maruf
Somalia has been at loggerheads with Kenya following the latter's decision to back Jubbaland President Ahmed Madobe, who won re-election.
A former diplomat says the directive will hamper operations of KDF given than plans carrying military equipments have been landing in Kismayo before.
“It targets Kenya and may well be intended to slow down Kenya’s supplies and logistical support to its Amisom camps in Dhobley and Kismayu,” Idd Bedel Mohammed, a former Somali diplomat, told the Sunday Nation.
“It is targeting Jubaland in the wake of defiance. But it is discriminatory and may backfire if clans feel they are being targeted,” he said, referring to the re-election of Jubaland President Ahmed Islam Mohamed, alias Madobe.
Last week, Somalia also opposed Kenya's bid to have Al-Shabaab listed as a terrorist organization, a move that further complicates relationship between Nairobi and Mogadishu.
Pressed to explain, Somalia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Abubakar Dahir Osman told a radio station that Kenya had sustained Shabaab’s source of revenue by abetting illegal charcoal trade.
“We urge the Kenyan Government to implement Security Council Resolution 751 targeting Al-Shabaab, including the ban on illegal charcoal trade,” he later tweeted.