Reports from Somalia’s Galgaduud region indicate a group of soldiers from Galmudug Darawiish forces defected to Al-Shabaab in Ceelgaras area.
Sources say around seven soldiers were involved, all recently trained under supervision of President Ahmed Cabdi Kaariye, also known as Qoor Qoor, in Dhuusamareeb.
Local residents said Al-Shabaab welcomed the defecting soldiers and assisted them in reaching Ceelgaras without facing opposition or government interference.
No official statement has been released by Galmudug authorities regarding the incident, despite ongoing government operations targeting Al-Shabaab in central Somalia’s Galgaduud and Mudug regions.
Security analysts say this incident shows challenges for Somali authorities in maintaining loyalty among newly trained forces in regions with militant influence.
The defection underscores central Somalia’s fragile security, where government operations, clan politics, and Al-Shabaab’s presence combine to create a persistent threat to stability.
