Somali Islamist rebels unite for battle

MOGADISHU, Sunday

In a surprise move, fighters of Hizbu Islam in Gedo region in Southern Somalia shifted their loyalty to Al-Shabaab, the strongest Islamist movement opposing the Transitional Federal Government.

A Hizbu Islam official in the region that borders both Kenya and Ethiopia announced the development.

Sheikh Ahmed Mohamud, the Deputy Ameir (leader) of Hizbu Islam in Gedo region proudly briefed the local media on Saturday that his fighters joined those of Al-Shabaab.

“Under the current circumstance, we decided to detach ourselves from Hizbu Islam and join Al-Shabaab jihadists,” said Sheikh Mohamud.

“We opted to fight alongside our fellow fighters from Al-Shabaab,” added the cleric. “Our strength will increase if our target is focused.”

Despite defection by militia in Gedo region, the leader of Hizbu Islam, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, dismissed the notion that his movement is about to hold peace meeting with the Somali government. “We are fighting against a puppet group and a foreign enemy (Amisom peacekeepers),” said Sheikh Aweys.

Sheikh Aweys referred to the peacekeepers in Somalia from the African Union as ‘mercenaries’ who would die in their countries of Aids.

“These soldiers have come from Aids affected countries and it does not matter whether they die there from the pandemic or here for bullets,” remarked Sheikh Aweys.

Currently, there are nearly 5000 peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi serving the African Mission in Somalia, Amisom.

Meanwhile, Somalia’s insurgents today rejected a government call for a ceasefire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan and accused the president of trying to use religion as a cover for re-arming his troops. President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, a former Islamist rebel, had called for an end to fighting during Ramadan to allow people to pray.

“We will not accept that ceasefire call. This holy month will be a triumphant time for mujahideen and we will fight the enemy,” Hizbul Islam leader Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys told a news conference.

In another development, the Islamist authority ruling the Somali town of Kismayu, 500 km south of Mogadishu, carried out an amputation of the right hand of a man accused of theft at the weekend.

Mahad Ghelle Yusuf, 25, was charged and found guilty of stealing a property worthy of around US$100.

The act of theft allegedly took place at a house in Bu’ale town, the capital of Middle Juba region, 135 km north of Kismayu. The judge said that enough evidence was brought to the court, including admission of guilt by the charged man.

The sentence was carried out by a militia serving a coalition of Islamist groups controlling the port town and most of Lower and Middle Juba regions.

Yusuf was found guilty by Sharia (Islamic laws) court. “It was around 5 pm on Friday when a massive number of people gathered to witness the amputation process,” said Hassan Abdulle Jama, a resident in Kismayu.