Militia Joins Pro-US Government in Somalia

US-backed forces of the Somalia Transitional Federal Government and AMISOM enter the town of Wanlaweyn. The Horn of Africa nation is being occupied by imperialism utilizing proxy forces from the region., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Dec 1, 2012 - 1:20:30 PM

Ahlu Sunnah militia officially joins Somalia’s Federal Government

1 Dec 1, 2012 - 12:45:45 PM

MOGADISHU, Somalia Dec 1 2012 (Garowe Online) – Ahlu Sunnah militia forces have been integrated into Somali Federal Government troops on Saturday, after fighting Al Shabaab alongside Somali government troops for 2 years, Garowe Online reports.

Ahlu Sunnah's Operational Chief Sheikh Mohamed Yusuf Hefow stated in Mogadishu on Saturday that Ahlu Sunnah forces are now officially part of Federal Government troops.

“The Ahlu Sunnah forces have now officially joined the federal armed forces of Somalia,” said Sheikh Hefow.

Sheikh Hefow stated that the Federal Government integrated the Ahlu Sunnah militants into the Somali armed forces after long discussions with the government officials.

“Ahlu Sunnah has been fighting Al Shabaab for quite some time; the government has also been fighting Al Shabaab. So we have had the same cause and now after long discussions we have aligned our cause,” said Sheikh Hefow.

The reportedly 2000 strong Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’a – a moderate Suffi group- forces have been fighting Al Shabaab since 2008 after Al Shabaab militants attempted to desecrate religious Suffi sites in Galgaduud region in central Somalia.

In 2010 Ahlu Sunnah forces signed a deal with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) that granted the group control of 5 ministries as well as security posts in government.

The Ahlu Sunnah forces have received money, weapons and training from Ethiopia to fight Al Shabaab in central and southern Somalia.

Ethiopia was worried that Al Shabaab’s threat in Gedo and Galgaduud regions – that share borders with Ethiopia - would destabilize security along the Somali-Ethiopia border.

The Ras Kamboni militia is another militia group fighting Al Shabab in Somalia and alongside Ahlu Sunnah, Somali government troops and Kenya uprooted Al Shabaab from the Jubaland regions.

GAROWE ONLINE


Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)

Somalia: Ras Kamboni Militia Gun Down a Civilian in Kismayo - Witnesses

30 November 2012

Mogadishu — Reports coming in from the southern port city of Kismayo said a civilian man was gunned down on Friday by pro-government Ras Kamboni Militia fighters.

Mohamed Ahmed, a young football player was shot in head and chest in five times by The fighters inside a big market in the city, a former Al shabab stronghold town located just some 500 Km south of Mogadishu.

Following the murder Ras Kamboni Militia ordered locals not to remove his body from the scene, according to the eye witnesses who spoke to Shabelle Media Network station in Mogadishu by phone.

The reason behind the execution of the civilian man is yet to be established by the leaders of the pro-government Somali militia Ras Kamboni in the city.

Ras Kamboni Militia in Somalia led by Ahmed Mohamed Madobe now controls the strategic port city of Kismayo, the provincial capital of Lower Juba in southern Somalia, after long running battle with Al shabab.

Ras Kamboni began collaborating with Somali government and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces in October 2011, forcing al-Shabaab out of several key towns in Lower Juba. Currently, the allied forces are now in the strategic port of Kismayo.