Pro-Islamic State Somali militants have grown in numbers and are receiving financial and military support from Yemen, a Somali top intelligence official told the VOA Somali Service.
Abdi Hassan Hussein, the former Director of the Puntland Intelligence Agency (PIA) said when the pro-IS Somali faction was founded in October last year it had about 20-30 men, but has since set up training camps and recruited more fighters. He said the group’s fighters now number between 100-150 fighters.
He said Islamic State has welcomed its Somalia branch and has started delivering supplies through their affiliate faction in Yemen.
Hussein said the government and African Union troops can’t win against al-Shabab or IS factions militarily, and urged them to confront the groups ideologically