(31-05-23) MOGADISHU — Al-Shabaab’s major weapons and ammunition depot was razed to the ground in the Jilib district of the Central Juba region in southern Somalia. State media reported on Wednesday that a large storage house situated behind the Gurey Mosque, the main bastion for Al-Shabaab’s arsenal, was engulfed in flames, resulting in the destruction of the largest weapons cache held by the terrorist group in the region.
The explosion’s origins remain unclear. However, speculation is rife that the incident could be the handiwork of the Somali intelligence agency. In a follow-up to the explosion, a prominent figure within the Al-Shabaab faction, Abdullahi Jeri, known as the custodian of the group’s weaponry, was reportedly taken into custody, according to State Media. This incident underscores the escalating tension within the group’s ranks, which has resulted in multiple instances of self-inflicted damage to their own weapon depots in the past.
The frequent internal conflicts and power struggles within Al-Shabaab have led to similar mishaps in recent times, particularly in southern and central Somalia, destabilising the group’s operations and severely denting their capacity for militant activities.
