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EASO Country of Origin Information report — South and Central <strong>Somalia</strong> — Country overview — 83<br />
Al‐Shabaab is seen as ‘only really problematic actor for the Galmudug administration’ ( 800 ) and might have a covert<br />
presence in Galkacyo ( 801 ). But according to one source, Al‐Shabaab cannot get support in Galmudug ( 802 ) , since<br />
the local population is willing to support efforts of security forces to hunt down Al‐Shabaab ( 803 ). However, there<br />
are reports of imminent Al‐Shabaab terror attacks in Galkacyo, especially against international organisations ( 804 ).<br />
A group of suspected Al‐Shabaab operatives was captured in Galkacyo on 25 March 2014 ( 805 ). In addition, in its move<br />
northwards, Al‐Shabaab is enforcing its structure in the area of Xarardheere and might be a threat to Hobyo ( 806 ) ,<br />
where the Galmudug administration and its police have a presence ( 807 ). The influence of Galmudug in the coastal<br />
area is limited ( 808 ).<br />
3.5 Al‐Shabaab<br />
3.5.1 Areas of Control/Areas of Influence (Mogadishu: see above)<br />
The two main areas of Al‐Shabaab military presence are: 1 - the Baraawe‐Jilib‐Diinsoor triangle; 2 - to the east of Buulo<br />
Barde (aka Buulo Burto); another few hundred areas constitute the Al‐Shabaab force in Mudug and Galgaduud ( 809 ),<br />
with Al‐Shabaab reportedly having a presence in Xaradheere ( 810 ).<br />
However, this does not imply that all other areas are free of Al‐Shabaab military presence ( 811 ). The group is said to<br />
be present approximately five kilometers outside all major towns in South/Central <strong>Somalia</strong> (for Al‐Shabaab activities<br />
in other areas see above) ( 812 ).<br />
Important bases or strongholds are: Adan Yaabal (Middle Shabelle); Jilib, Bu’aale and Jamaame (Middle Jubba) that<br />
contain much of the command and control structure of Al‐Shabaab; Baraawe (Lower Shabelle); Diinsoor and the<br />
area around Idale (Bay); and Jalalaqsi (Hiiraan) ( 813 ). Those strongholds might be threatened by air strikes, such as on<br />
20 May 2014 (Jilib) when approximately 50 died ( 814 ) or, again on Jilib, on 24 May 2014 ( 815 ).<br />
( 800 ) LPI, Alternatives for Conflict Transformation in <strong>Somalia</strong>. A snapshot and analysis of key political actors’ views and strategies, 2014 (http://www.life‐peace.<br />
org/wp‐content/uploads/The‐ACTS‐<strong>Report</strong>.pdf) accessed 27 May 2014, p. 27.<br />
( 801 ) OODA Loop, Security and Political Awareness <strong>Report</strong> <strong>Somalia</strong> for April 10 2014, 10 April 2014 (http://www.oodaloop.com/wp‐content/uploads/2014/03/<br />
<strong>Somalia</strong>‐<strong>Report</strong>‐through-4.4.14.pdf) accessed 16 May 2014.<br />
( 802 ) Security Analysis Expert, Austria: interview by the author, 13 May 2014.<br />
( 803 ) Sabahionline, Likelihood of al‐Shabaab members hiding among civilian population stokes fears, 7 April 2014 (http://sabahionline.com/en_GB/articles/hoa/<br />
articles/features/2014/04/07/feature-01) accessed 6 June 2014.<br />
( 804 ) Security Analysis Department, Weekly Security <strong>Report</strong>, 30 May 2014.; Concerning the killing of two personnel of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime<br />
(UNODC) at Galkacyo Airport on 7 April 2014 it is unclear if this was linked to AS‐terrorism. One source mentioned that – regarding how the killing took place<br />
and who was the target – a criminal background is more likely. Security Analysis Expert, Austria: interview by the author, 13 May 2014.<br />
( 805 ) Sabahionline, Likelihood of al‐Shabaab members hiding among civilian population stokes fears, 7 April 2014 (http://sabahionline.com/en_GB/articles/hoa/<br />
articles/features/2014/04/07/feature-01) accessed 6 June 2014.<br />
( 806 ) OODA Loop, Security and Political Awareness <strong>Report</strong> <strong>Somalia</strong> for April 10 2014, 10 April 2014 (http://www.oodaloop.com/wp‐content/uploads/2014/03/<br />
<strong>Somalia</strong>‐<strong>Report</strong>‐through-4.4.14.pdf) accessed 16 May 2014.<br />
( 807 ) Security Analysis Expert, Austria: interview by the author, 13 May 2014.<br />
( 808 ) Tiwald, A., ‘The Security Situation in <strong>Somalia</strong>’, <strong>Somalia</strong>: Security, Minorities and Migration, Austria: Federal Ministry of the Interior, 2013 (http://www.refworld.<br />
org/docid/53564b8a4.html) accessed 15 May 2014, p. 33.<br />
( 809 ) Security Analysis Expert, Austria: e‐mail response, 26 May 2014; the strength was given with 500-800 AS‐fighters in the area in 2013. See: Tiwald, A.,<br />
‘The Security Situation in <strong>Somalia</strong>’, <strong>Somalia</strong>: Security, Minorities and Migration, Austria: Federal Ministry of the Interior, 2013 (http://www.refworld.org/<br />
docid/53564b8a4.html) accessed 15 May 2014, p. 32.<br />
( 810 ) EU <strong>Somalia</strong> Mission, Press Review – Xog‐Doon, 3 June 2014.<br />
( 811 ) Security Analysis Expert, Austria: e‐mail response, 26 May 2014.<br />
( 812 ) An international NGO in: Landinfo/Udlændingsstyrelsen, Update on security and protection issues in Mogadishu and South‐Central <strong>Somalia</strong>, March 2014<br />
(http://landinfo.no/asset/2837/1/2837_1.pdf) accessed 26 May 2014, p. 15.<br />
( 813 ) OODA Loop, Security and Political Awareness <strong>Report</strong> <strong>Somalia</strong> for April 10 2014, 10 April 2014 (http://www.oodaloop.com/wp‐content/uploads/2014/03/<br />
<strong>Somalia</strong>‐<strong>Report</strong>‐through-4.4.14.pdf) accessed 16 May 2014.<br />
( 814 ) Shabelle Media Network, AMISOM: Airstrike Kills 50 al‐Shabab in <strong>Somalia</strong>, 21 May 2014 (http://shabelle.net/p=21786) accessed 21 May 2014.<br />
( 815 ) EU <strong>Somalia</strong> Mission, Press Review – Xog‐Doon, 25 May 2014.
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