 In 2009, al-Shabaab witnessed a number of its fighters, including several leaders, defect to Somalia's Transitional Federal Government.One such high-profile defection was that in early November 2009 of Sheikh Mohamed Abdullahi (also known as "Sheikh Bakistani"), who commanded the Maymana Brigade.Sheikh Bakistani told Voice of America (VOA) Somali Services that he found the group's suicide missions and executions unbearable.