New Somali militia throws down its gauntlet to al-Shabaab

A new militant group has emerged in Somalia's Lower Shebelle Region, near Somali capital Mogadishu. The group, which calls itself "Apron Owners", is made up of a large number of militants who previously worked in the raising of animals and the coal trade.

The militia was formed to trim the expansion of the al-Qaeda-leaning al-Shabaab movement, at a time the central state proves incapable of stopping this expansion.

Somalia has been suffering unrest since 2008, something that feeds on the weakness of the security apparatus of the African state. This weakness also induced a large number of locals to join the terrorist groups active in the country.

Fighting broke out yesterday between al-Shabaab fighters and the Apron Owners in the Lower Shebelle Region. Four members of the Apron Owners were killed in the fighting, including a militia commander.

The militia accuses al-Shabaab of being an occupying force. It calls for fighting them and showing their reality to the general public in Somalia.

Some members of the militia are present in Gedo Village in the Central Shebelle Region, north of Mogadishu. A fighting also erupted between these members and al-Shabaab militants in the village last week. Apron Owners fighters raided an al-Shabaab camp in the village. The ensuing battles left a large number of militants on both sides dead.

Al-Shabaab militants are also facing a great challenge from the Apron Owners. The al-Qaeda-aligned group has been fighting the fledgling militia since the emergence of the latter in 2018.

The movement has repeatedly tried to eliminate the group, but failed. In December 2018, al-Shabaab launched an attack on the Apron Owners in Golani in the Central Shebelle Region. The owners had, however, repelled the attack and succeeded in killing 8 al-Shabaab militants, including two senior commanders responsible for financial affairs and the collection of Zakat. The owners also seized a large quantity of weapons.

Al-shabaab militants have taken over various areas of Shebelle Region, where the Somali army has withdrawn for several days. Al-Shabaab also tightened its grip on areas along the coastal road linking the capital with Marka Center of the Lower Shebelle Region.

The Somali army withdrew from the region after the government failed in paying troops their salaries for several months. This withdrawal opened the door for terrorist elements to establish a foothold in a sprawling neighborhood close to the capital, Mogadishu.

Ahmed Askar, a researcher in African affairs, said this new and dangerous development reflects the weakness of the central state in Somalia.

"It also reflects the lack of confidence in the Somali state on the part of the Somali people," he said.

He expected the emergence of the new militia to also open the door for catastrophes in Somalia. This is especially true, he said, with African troops preparing to evacuate from Somalia by 2020.