Bosaso Somalia -The ISIS group in Somalia, also known as Daesh, has a complex structure with leadership members from various clans. Here is an overview of the known key figures and their respective clans within the group:

1. Abdulkadir Mumin Yusuf (Ali Saleeban): The founder and leader of ISIS in Somalia, as well as the head of ISIS in East and Central Africa. He is a former traditional elder and cleric, originally from the Ali Saleeban clan, and lived in the UK before returning to Somalia in 2010. He later broke from Al-Shabaab in 2015 to establish the ISIS branch.

2. Mahad Jajab (Ali Saleeban): Known as Aaw Geelle within the group, he was the former head of the Litigation Office and Deputy Head of the Finance Office for ISIS in Somalia. He is also one of Abdulkadir Mumin’s deputies. In 2018, the US added him to its list of international terrorists, accusing him of importing fighters and weapons into Somalia.

3. Abdirahman Fahiye Jesus (Harti, Dashishe): Known within the group by multiple aliases such as Ahmed Adan, Khalid, and Yaqub, he is a top ISIS leader in Somalia. There are reports suggesting that he has become the Emir of ISIS in Somalia following Mumin’s promotion to the Emir of ISIS in East and Central Africa. His involvement in suicide attacks has also been reported.

4. Abu Yusuf (Majerteen): Known as the foreign head of ISIS in Somalia, he is originally from the Majerteen clan and is believed to have lived in the United States for some time.

5. Abdihakin Dhoqob (Ali Saleeban): A former school teacher and leader of the AS group in Somalia’s Eastern region. He was responsible for arresting the head of political affairs for ISIS in Somalia. Abdihakin was killed by a U.S. military strike in the Bari region, but his replacement is not yet clear.

6. Hamse Farey (Majerteen): The head of the prosecution within the ISIS group in Somalia, originating from the Majerteen clan.

7. Bashir (Majerteen): Known as Abdullahi-Buur, he holds a senior position in the prosecution office of ISIS in Somalia, and like others, he is from the Majerteen clan.

8. Abdiqani Luqman (Majerteen, Ali Saleeban): He is in charge of military operations within ISIS in Somalia. There are conflicting reports about whether he belongs to the Leelkase or the Majerteen clan.

9. Fahad Abole (Ogaden): The head of logistics for ISIS in Somalia, coming from the Ogaden clan.

10. Jafar Dahasan (Majerteen, Osman Muhamud): A member of the Majerteen clan, his specific role is unclear, but he is known to be associated with ISIS in Somalia.

In conclusion, although ISIS often downplays the importance of clan affiliations, the leadership of the group in Somalia is predominantly drawn from various Somali clans, including the Ali Saleeban, Majerteen, Ogaden, and Harti clans, highlighting the complexity of Somalia’s clan-based society and its influence on even militant organizations like ISIS.

The conflict between Daesh militants and Puntland forces in the eastern part of the Puntland Administration has been ongoing for several days. Puntland authorities have shared photographs of some of the Daesh fighters who were killed during the confrontation, revealing that some of the militants were foreigners, not originally from Somalia.

This situation highlights the regional and international dimensions of the conflict, as foreign fighters have been involved in the ongoing violence in Somalia. The presence of these foreign militants complicates the security situation in the region, as Puntland forces continue to battle against this group, which has been operating in the mountainous areas of eastern Puntland. The region remains a volatile area with heightened military activity as both local forces and foreign insurgents clash.

CMD Reports