Will Somalia become a safe refuge for terrorists?

The Islamic State group (IS) has been keeping a low profile in Somalia for some time now.

This boils down to rifts that started appearing within the branch of this terrorist organization in this African country recently.

Three IS elements were killed and others injured recently in fights between its fighters.

The fights took place in mountainous areas in the northeastern part of Somalia, according to the news site, New Somalia.

Leadership conflicts

Conflicts erupted within the branch of the organization against the background of the frail health of its commander Abdul Qadir Mumin who had defected from al-Shabaab movement and joined IS.

At the age of 80, Mumin is bed-ridden now because of his poor health condition.

Rivalries between IS and al-Shabaab are also causing conflicts within IS, especially after a number of IS fighters defected from it and joined al-Shabaab, according to the Somali army.

First spark

The first spark for fights between IS members and those joining their organization from al-Shabaab was made in November 2015.

Al-Shabaab issued a statement in which it vowed to kill its members who would join IS.

A senior commander of al-Shabaab asked the organization's members to kill fellow members who defect and join IS.

"We will slaughter those who will undermine our unity," Abu Abdullah said.

In December 2015, al-Shabaab killed one of its outstanding officers, namely Sudanese national Mohamed Mekawi Ibrahim, soon after he swore allegiance to then IS caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.