Al-Shabaab commander Ahmed Abdi Godane in an audio message released Tuesday (July 30th) accused foreign countries of attempting to break up the militant group, Kenya's Africa Review reported.

Godane's 68-minute address said Qatar, Turkey and members of Somalia's former Islamic Courts Union have been luring al-Shabaab members to defect with promises of positions within the Somali government and the removal of their names from international terrorist lists.

Godane has faced increasing pressure from within al-Shabaab, including dissention from other al-Shabaab leaders and militants. In response, al-Shabaab's elite Amniyat branch has taken on the responsibility of protecting Godane from internal attacks.

Al-Shabaab top leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys defected in June and remains in custody of Somali government forces.

Godane called al-Shabaab defectors "non-Muslims" and demanded greater loyalty from current members, Somalia's Radio Dalsan reported.

"I call on the members of the mujahidin to maintain unity and to listen to their commanders whether they are commanders of unit or commanders of brigade," Godane said.