GAROWE (Somaliguardian) – Two rival factions of ISIS-affiliate vying for power have fought in their mountainous hideouts in Somalia’s northeastern semi-autonomous region of Puntland, after rift between the group’s commanders widened in recent weeks.
Rival fighters of the group clashed on Monday in Miskat Mountain range in Bari region, which is believed to be a hideout for ISIS leaders.
The fighting has come amid heightened dispute between the group’s senior commanders over who should succeed their ailing leader Abdulkadir Mumin.
At least 3 fighters have been killed and several others wounded in the clashes on Monday, while tensions still continue to simmer in the area.
There have been reports over the past few weeks that leader of ISIS-affiliate in Somalia Abdikadir Mumin has been ill with diabetes and his close associates, mainly from his clan have been trying to move power away from foreign fighters and commanders belonging to other Somali tribes.
Abdulkadir Mumin had defected from Al-Shabaab as a preacher but enjoyed a leadership role within ISIS-affiliate in the mountainous hideouts in northeastern Somalia.
Al-Shabaab declared war on ISIS in late 2018 and carried out a number of attacks on the group’s mountainous hideouts in Puntland, though clashes have later stopped after fighters of the Al-Qaeda franchise in Somalia took over ISIS positions.
Puntland regional officials have not yet commented on the clashes between ISIS factions in Miskat mountain range.
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