Cracks in the murderous blood-lust group al-Shabaab’s top leadership have widened following the expulsion of two senior leaders. The group is now divided into two factions based on clans.

Intelligence reports indicate that the militant group’s commanders have disagreed along clan lines and sharing of resources. The differences have reportedly led to the dismissal of two top commanders identified as Bashir Qorqab and Mahad Karate by their ailing senior, Ahmed Diriye.
“The bitter differences among the three leaders arose over the sharing of resources,” states an intelligence report.

The move has sparked a rebellion from a section of the militants over what they termed “unfair treatment of some clans”. The faction has expressed dissatisfaction with its leadership and has protested against over taxation and unfair treatment of its clan. Sources indicate that another senior al-Shabaab commander has formed a rival group to fight his former comrades over oppression of his clan through taxation.

Last year, another commander, Zubair al-Muhajir, bolted out of the al-Qaeda affiliate and condemned the group “for going against Islam and the Quran”. The terror group is also fighting a clan militia — Maawisley — in south and central Somalia. Recently, Maawisley clashed with Shabaab militants, who had forcefully taken their animals and forced them to give out alms.