What is the reason for adding Laftagareen officials and troops to the terrorist list?

What is the reason for adding Laftagareen officials and troops to the terrorist list?

An extraordinary meeting held on Monday by the Council of Ministers of the South West Administration resulted in a decision to add the troops of Cabdicasiis Laftagareen, stationed on the outskirts of the city of Baydhabo, to the terrorist list.

This force, led by ministers and officials who were previously part of the Laftagareen administration, has previously carried out attacks that resulted in many deaths in the city of Baydhabo, the temporary capital of South West.

The spokesperson for the KGS administration stated that this decision was based on evidence that he claimed showed a connection between Laftagreen troops and the al-Shabaab organization.

The new spokesperson for the South West Administration, Maxamed Sheekh Cabdullaahi Xaayow, speaking about the decision to add Laftagareen troops to the terrorist list, said that "an urgent meeting of the KGS Council of Ministers, chaired by the president of KGS, extensively discussed these issues, and it was generally agreed that this group works with and lives among al-Shabaab".

Reasons cited for adding to the AS list

Maxamed Sheekh Cabdillaahi pointed out that several reasons were cited for the decision reached by the Council of Ministers, giving an example that it is difficult to coexist with AS while having a government, responding to a question about the basis of the decision, he said, "It was based on the fact that the AS culture does not allow for integration; where they are, there is land controlled by al-Shabaab, so how can they be there? But they are there under an agreement, an understanding; if AS is not satisfied, they cannot stay there, that is the first evidence".

He added that the spokesperson mentioned the attacks on August 17 in Baydhabo, stating that they included explosions which he said are another sign that al-Shabaab was part of that conflict, "The attacks that occurred included explosions, many signs, there were explosions; as we know, within Somalia, no one can carry out an explosion, commit suicide, or blow up a vehicle or themselves without being AS" he said.

He stated that up to seven suicide bombings occurred during that conflict, although the BBC could not independently verify this matter.

Another issue that the Council of Ministers had as evidence, the new KGS spokesperson Maxamed Sheekh Cabdullaahi stated, was that there were "known individuals from Bakool who were already known to be part of AS, whose bodies were brought to Baydhabo and seen by the community," as he said.

What do Laftagareen troops say?