Funding crises have pushed Somali terror group, Al Shabaab to shift balance towards the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Puntland Government in Northern Somalia claimed on Tuesday. The remarks come less than a week after key Al Shabaab ideologue Abdulkadir Mumin defected to Islamic State, whose leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is desperately seeking to extend influence into the East African country. Puntland Security Minister, Abdi Hirsi Ali (Qarjab) said on VOA Somali Service that funding slash by Al Qaeda split Al Shabaab. He added that Puntland views all forms of terrorist organizations including Daesh, Al Qaeda and East African franchise, Al Shabaab as existential threat. “There have been speculations that Al Shabaab is facing severe funds shortage. We believe that Al Shabaab is being sponsored by clandestine terror networks,” Puntland Security Minister noted.

Puntland has beefed up security at entry points, such as coastal areas as Yemenis fleeing conflict continue to stream in. Although radical cleric Mumin courted controversy with his IS-leaning interests among Al Shabaab ranks, Al Shabaab Northeast could be pondering imminent merger with the IS. United Nations investigators unveiled in confidential report that they follow with concern; Al-Shabaab’s destabilizing activities in stable Puntland. Puntland forces waged fierce military offensive on militants in mid-2010. However, terror campaign resumed in early 2014, and Al Shabaab has ever since opted for unprecedented hit-and-run attacks, largely in Bossaso Port City.