BELEDWWEYNE (Mareeg)—Sheik Ibrahim Sheik Yusuf, the commander of the security forces of the Islamic Courts Union that supports the government in Beledweyne has reportedly defected to Hisbul Islam rebel group, officials said on Thursday.

Witnesses said the commander with two vehicles and fifty soldiers from the Islamic Courts Union defected to Hisbul Islam and al Shabaab groups in the west part of Beledweyne town in Hiraan region in central Somalia.

The move comes as there has been dispute between the leaders of the pro government Islamic Courts Union about the troop movement by the Ethiopian soldiers in Hiraan region in central Somalia.

Sheik Ibrahim told reporters that he left the administration of the pro government Islamic Courts Union and accused the leadership of being campaigning of Ethiopian troops to re-enter in the region.

Defections are normal among the Somali factions fighting for the leadership of the country. The pro government Islamic Courts Union controls the main part of Beledweyne and the allied Hisbul Islam and al Shabaab groups  control the west par of the town.

By Ahmednor Mohamed Farah

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