Every province in Somalia that Al Shabab conducts attacks, it's their jabhad or assassination squad that does it. Even the towns they "control" are clans who pledged allegiance to them. The waali's (governor) and wilaayat(provinces) they claim are all jabhaad and clan elders ruling towns as what they call Nuquba. My abti went deep into their "territory" just to find out that they only have consolidated power in the districts of Middle Jubba. If we were to however get the clans to pledge allegiance to the government, give them supplies, and incentives to not work with Al shabab; it will work. The real reason the government hasn't won in the most recent operations against them is because of the exclusive clan system that has been sideling clans and forcing them to work with Al Shabab.
Puntland, Somaliland, and DDS are more inclusive and clans have pledged allegiance to their executives. Al Shabab lost there only yearning to infiltrate the contested areas between two states like Sanaag and Mudug. Mudug wouldn't have an inch of Al Shabab if it were under one admin or if there was better collaboration. It's worth noting that even their presence in the areas administered by two maamuls is still even minimal.
Puntland, Somaliland, and DDS are more inclusive and clans have pledged allegiance to their executives. Al Shabab lost there only yearning to infiltrate the contested areas between two states like Sanaag and Mudug. Mudug wouldn't have an inch of Al Shabab if it were under one admin or if there was better collaboration. It's worth noting that even their presence in the areas administered by two maamuls is still even minimal.