Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Somalia News Update: Hizbul Islam Leader Declares Ceasefire in Fighting With Al Shabaab

Somalia: Hizbul Islam chief declares 'ceasefire' in Al Shabaab war

6 Oct 6, 2009 - 3:09:45 PM

MOGADISHU, Somalia Oct 6 (Garowe Online) - The leader of a rebel faction fighting against Somalia's UN-recognized interim government has called on another rebel faction to stop fighting, Radio Garowe reports.

Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, the chairman of Hizbul Islam faction, told the BBC Somali Service during a Tuesday interview that Al Shabaab fighters should "stop the bullets."

"Al Shabaab should stop fighting and solve differences using the Islamic book," Sheikh Aweys said, while referring to the Noble Qur'an, Islam's holy book.

Fighting between Hizbul Islam and Al Shabaab erupted last week over control of the key southern port of Kismayo, where Al Shabaab rulers established an administration independent of Hizbul Islam.

Both Islamist factions have been fighting jointly since May to topple the Somali interim government in the capital, Mogadishu.

"I believe that this war has no benefit…since the fighting is between Islamists who are expected to be united against the enemy," Hizbul Islam's leader added.

Sheikh Aweys dismissed comments attributed to Al Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Ali "Dheere" Mohamud who claimed that the fighting in Kismayo is not between Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam, but that Al Shabaab was fighting against Sheikh Ahmed "Madobe" Mohamed.

"The fighting is between the two groups [Hizbul Islam and Al Shabaab] and we were attacked and we request that the bullets be stopped," Sheikh Aweys said.

Hizbul Islam's chief defended Sheikh Ahmed Madobe as a "well-known Mujahid who is a member of Hizbul Islam." He suggested that humans can make mistakes, but "that is not enough for war."

Sheikh Aweys confirmed a Saturday night meeting with Al Shabaab's senior leaders, but said "no agreement" was reached and pledged to inform the media.

Asked why he spoke out now, Sheikh Aweys said he spoke because the fighting continues between Hizbul Islam and Al Shabaab factions in parts of Lower Jubba region, where Kismayo is located.

Further, Sheikh Aweys said Kismayo should be jointly administered by both groups, as was agreed in Aug. 2008 when the port town was seized from a clan warlord. He said that the recent battles in Kismayo "will not divide the Mujahideen brothers."

On Tuesday, brief skirmishes erupted between Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam around Janay Abdalla village, with Hizbul Islam fighters reportedly retreating from the village.

Source: Garowe Online


Somalia: Hizbul Islam claims to capture 'foreign fighters'

6 Oct 6, 2009 - 4:04:04 PM

MOGADISHU, Somalia Oct 6 (Garowe Online) - A spokesman for Somali rebel faction Hizbul Islam has said that they captured 'foreign fighters' during battles against Al Shabaab, although Hizbul Islam fighters withdrew from a key military position, Radio Garowe reports.

Sheikh Ismail Haji Addow, spokesman for Hizbul Islam, told reporters in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Tuesday that Hizbul Islam "controls all fighting areas."

"Our fighters suffered casualties including deaths, but there are more casualties on the side of Al Shabaab," Sheikh Addow said, who declared victory.

He claimed that Hizbul Islam fighters captured "foreign fighters" from unnamed countries, who were fighting alongside Al Shabaab, an insurgent group listed as a terror organization by the U.S. and Australian governments.

Fighting was reported overnight Monday and into midday Tuesday, with independent sources confirming that Hizbul Islam fighters were pushed out of Janay Abdalla village in the outskirts of Kismayo

Hizbul Islam fighters withdrew to an area about 10km from Janay Abdalla, and although Al Shabaab rebels seized Janay Abdalla, they reportedly did not advance further.

The small village has been the scene of intense fighting for the past three days, with Hizbul Islam maintaining control of Janay Abdalla until Tuesday's battle.

There were no reliable casualty reports, but various sources tell Garowe Online that casualties were small on both sides.

Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam are two Somali rebel groups who have been jointly fighting to topple the Horn of Africa country's UN-recognized interim government since May.

The two rebel factions began fighting each other last Thursday over control of the key southern port of Kismayo, after Al Shabaab declared a new administration for Kismayo by excluding Hizbul Islam.

Despite Tuesday's fighting, Hizbul Islam chief Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys has called for a ceasefire between the two rebel groups.


Somali elders say they solved tensions in southern Somalia

Posted: 10/6/2009 1:08:00 PM
Shabelle: SOMALIA

TIYEGLO (Sh. M. Network) – the traditional elders in Tiyeglo village in Bakol region have said on Tuesday that they solved tensions between the Islamist forces of Harkat Al-shabab Mujahideen and Hizbil Islam there in southern Somalia.

The elders from Bakol region said that they had achieved completely calming the tensions of both Islamist fighters of Hizbul Islam and Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen in the recent days after mediating them in over the past 24 hours.

Malak Gududow Hassan, one of the traditional elders in Bakol region whom Shabelle had contacted through the telephone said that the situation of the village was calm that time adding that both rival sides agreed to end their conflicts and reach solution.

He said both sides agreed the Islamic administration of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen to manage the village while the other was said to stay there as forces adding that they also returned weapons each other which they took forcibly during the tensions.

There is no comment from the higher officials of both the Islamic administrations who talked about the deal which the two sides reached in Tiyeglo village in Bakol region in southern Somalia.

For more send your comments to radioshabelle@ymail.com


‘Our fighters are still in out of Kismayu town’: official

Posted: 10/7/2009 12:23:00 PM
Shabelle: SOMALIA

MOGADISHU (Sh. M. Network) – the Islamist organization officials of Hizbul Islam have Wednesday said that their fighters are still in out of the port town of Kismayu, just after Islamists in Jubba regions said they took over whole areas in southern Somalia.

Officials from both the warring sides claimed victory over the fighting which continued west of the town in over the past few days as each one says has the upper hand of the clashes and control of the areas where both sides fought.

Sheik Mohamed Mo’allin, the secretary of the information for the Hizbul Islam organization told Shabelle radio that their fighters were yet in the war zones they clashed with the Islamist forces of Jubba regions asserting that Sheik Ahmed Madobe is an official member of the Hizbul Islam.

It was yesterday when the spokesman of the Islamic administrations of Jubba regions Sheik Hassan Ya’qub Ali said that they took over the control of Birta-der and Janay-Abdalla in the west of Kismayu town where the fighting continued last days.

He said that their fighters were fighting against with other forces loyal to Sheik Ahmed Mohamed Islam known as (Madobe).

The recent fighting which continued out of the ports town of Kismayu in Lower Jubba region caused more casualties of deaths, injuries, displacement and loss of property and the latest reports from the region indicate that the situation of the war zones is calm right now.

For more send your comments to radioshabelle@ymail.com


Hizbul Islam claims victory over fighting out of Kismayu town

Posted: 10/6/2009 12:02:00 PM
Shabelle: SOMALIA

KISMAYU (Sh. M. Network) – The Islamist organization of Hizbul Islam has claimed victory over the fighting in out of Kismayu town, just after heavy fighting between the Islamist fighters continued overnight there, officials told Shabelle radio on Tuesday.

Sheik Adow also said that the clash between the two sides broke out as the bases of their fighters in out of the town were attacked pointing out that both forces exchanged heavy weapons for a while adding that they inflicted more casualties, deaths and injuries to the side against them.

The official said three fighters were killed and others were injured from their side during the fighting which bitterly continued there yesterday until overnight.

There is no comment about yesterday’s fighting which started at Birta-Der village in the west of the town from the representatives of the Islamic administration of Jubba regions based in Kismayu town.

Residents said that there were civilians who were wounded there as the fighting continued saying that they were rushed to the main hospital of Kismayu town in the regional capital of Lower Jubba region.

The statement of the Hizbul Islam organization claiming victory in the fighting in Kismayu town comes as the spokesman of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen held a press conference in Mogadishu recently and said that the fighting in and around the port town of Kismayu was not between both Islamist fighters of Hizbul Islam and Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen.

For more send your comments to radioshabelle@ymail.com


Uganda releases detained Somali minister

Posted: 10/7/2009 1:55:00 PM
Shabelle: SOMALIA

KAMPALA (Sh. M. Network) - Ugandan authorities released Somalia's junior defence minister Youssuf Mohamed Siad after he was arrested by mistake overnight in the capital Kampala, the army spokesman said.

Siad had entered Uganda by road from neighbouring Kenya, raising suspicions of security officials in the East African country, currently hosting a regional security meeting and about to celebrate its independence day.

“He was released this morning. He was held comfortably through the night,” Felix Kulayigye told AFP. “Once we realised who he was, he was not treated as a prisoner.”

Authoirites launched investigations upon receiving information on Siad's entry into the country, Kulayigye said.

“We followed him up. After the arrest was made he was identified as a minister,” he explained. “Certainly he should have come by air. He should have notified us and travelled as a visiting foreign official."

A powerful Mogadishu warlord and former member of Islamic Courts Union which ruled the country in 2006, Siad is now a key member of Somalia's internationally-backed transition government that is battling Islamic insurgents.

Asked whether he would be staying in the country or returning home, Kulaigye said: “I don't know what his plans are, but he is now a free man."

SOURCE: AFP


INTERVIEW-Somalia cannot defeat insurgents alone-minister

Posted: 10/5/2009 11:31:00 AM
Shabelle: SOMALIA

NAIROBI - Somalia's government will not be able to defeat al Qaeda-linked militants jeopardizing peace because the Horn of Africa nation's forces are too weak and African peacekeepers have a defensive mandate, a minister said.

"Somalis alone are not capable of confronting these groups. We need international assistance to strengthen our security forces to prepare them to do most of the job," Interior Minister Abdulkadir Ali Omar told Reuters in an interview.

Omar was deputy chairman of the Islamic Courts Union that briefly ran Mogadishu in 2006. His moderate Islamist militia has now been integrated with government security forces.

Fighting since the start of 2007 has killed some 19,000 civilians, uprooted 1.5 million from their homes and confined the government to a few blocks of the capital, with an African Union force (AMISOM) protecting key sites.

AMISOM has been targeted by insurgents with suicide attacks, but quibbles over its mandate have prevented the 5,000 troops from Uganda and Burundi going on any major offensive.

"Amendments of AMISOM rules of engagement are important, so that they can play more active role in the country," said Omar.

He appealed to international donors to fulfil commitments of financial support so the government could defeat the rebels and tackle the humanitarian disaster in the country.

"We would like to see more practical support from the international community and that aid has to be more than words."

SOURCES: REUTERS

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