Somalia: AU troops cautions Al-Shabab

The African Union troops in Somalia have on Monday sent warning massage to the movement of Al-Shabab.

“It is something very important for the Somali people to clearly understand why our forces are here in Somalia, we as peacekeeping troops and nothing beyond, we have no any other mission in Somalia, and whichever militant group aggressively attacks our troops, we shall not just watch what they are doing at us, but react if all means available” said Major Barigye Bahouku the spokesman of the African Union troops in Mogadishu speaking to Somaliweyn Website.

The fighters on Al-Shabab have some 2 days ago seized control of Dhusamareb town the headquarters of Galgadud region in central Somalia, after they have overpowered the fighters of Ahlu-Sunnah Waljama who were in control of the town.

But after heavy fighting between the two parts warriors the town has fallen back into the hands of Ahlu-Sunnah Waljama agin.

Al-Shabab has urged the Somali people to support their concept against the current government of Somalia and the presence of the African Union troops.

“The so called government of Somalia and the so called African Union troops are the vanguards of the western countries” said an officer in the movement of Al-Shababa.

According to a very genuine data collected by Somaliweyn Website more than 45 people have died in the battle between Al-Shabab and Ahlu-Sunnah Waljama including innocent civilians, and 70 were wounded.

Source: Somaliweyn.
Link: http://www.somaliweyn.org/pages/news/Jan_10/4Jan22.html.

Somalia: Al-Shabab takes control of Afmadow town

Sheikh Hassan Yakub Ali the spokesman of Al-Shabab in the Jubbah region in southern Somalia, giving an interview to Al-Andulus radio in Kismayo on Sunday morning has said that the warriors of Al-Shabab have taken control of Afmadow town which was a stronghold for their rivals Hizbul-Islam.

“The fighters of Hizbul-Islam got the information that our fighting are coming towards the town, and having heard this they have immediately vacated the town, and went towards the direction of the Kenyan Somali boarder town of Dobley” Said Sheikh Hassan Yakub.

The spokesman has urged the inhabitants of Afmadow to be cool, and pledged that they will take the responsibility of the ordinary civilians the most accurate manner.

It is not known the main reason as to why the fighters of Hizbul-Islam have left the town, before action occurred, it I not also known whether this is a military tactics.

There is no any other independent body which has confirmed the conquering of Afmadow town, apart from the officer from Al-Shabab.

Somalia: Al-Shabaab Bans WFP Food Distribution in Southern Somalia

2 November 2009

Somalia's insurgent group Al-Shabaab has banned the UN World Food Program from distributing humanitarian foodstuffs bearing US flag in southern Somalia.

Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Ali Abu Mansur, one of group's top leaders in southern Somali regions accused the world food agency of supplying US-flagged rations in their regions at harvesting season in a bid to undermine farmers and traders.

"WFP has made it norm to distribute food aid in the regions at harvesting time, we caution them about that. And also it can't hand out foodstuffs bearing US flags in our regions," he charged.

Abu Mansur urged residents to stop being dependent on assistance from infidels, warning those who rely on food aid.

WFP is one of few aid agencies that have been allowed to operate in southern Somali regions, which is largely controlled by Al-Shabaab.

Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab has vowed to defend and liberate Palestinian people from Israel's aggressions.

"We will not allow Israel to torment Muslim Palestinians and also destroy the Holy Al-Aqsa mosque. We will defend it," Abu Mansur charged while addressing gathering in Baidoa city on Friday.

Abu Mansur said his group would target anyone affiliated with the US, urging Washington to cease from interfering in Somali affairs.

Hundreds of Somalis have also held anti-Israel demonstrations in Al-Shabaab-controlled regions of Bay, Bakool, Lower Jubba, Middle and Lower Shabelle and parts of the capital Mogadishu.

In the capital, Al-Shabaab announced the formation of a special military unit named Quds Brigade, headed by Abdifatah Aweys Abu-Hamsa tasked to liberate and defend the holy mosque of Al-Aqsa.

Source: allAfrica.
Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/200911021646.html.

Al Shabaab says 3 Somali govt. troops have defected

Mon Nov 2, 2009

Al Shabaab claims that three soldiers of the Somali government army have defected and joined their ranks.

One of the soldiers who defected said he joined “his Muslim brothers” in Al Shabaab because he had come to the conclusion that the members of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia are puppets of Uganda, the Press TV correspondent in Mogadishu reported.

This was the first time in months that Somali government troops have switched sides.

Al Shabaab broke away from the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) after the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia in December 2006, and its militiamen fought against the Ethiopian troops until they withdrew from the country in January 2009.

Al Shabaab has never recognized any version of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.

Meanwhile, on Monday 60 members of the Somali Parliament asked the speaker to arrange a session of the legislature this week.

The parliament has not held a session since August 19, 2009.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/110281.html.

Somalia's Shabaab rebels threaten Uganda, Burundi

Friday October 23, 2009
By Abdi Guled and Ibrahim Mohamed

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somalia's hardline al Shabaab insurgents said they would strike the capitals of Burundi and Uganda in revenge for rocket attacks by peacekeepers from those countries that killed at least 30 people in Mogadishu.

"We shall make their people cry," Sheikh Ali Mohamed Hussein, al Shabaab's self-styled governor of Banadir region, which includes Mogadishu, told reporters late on Thursday.

"We shall attack Bujumbura and Kampala ... We will move our fighting to those two cities and we shall destroy them."

Burundi and Uganda both have about 2,500 peacekeepers in the Somali capital for the African Union's AMISOM force.

Reuters witnesses said they fired at least 35 rockets into the capital's Bakara market area on Thursday after al Shabaab gunmen there launched mortar shells at President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed's plane as he left the airport for a summit in Uganda.

The United States accuses the rebel group, which wants to topple Ahmed's fragile U.N.-backed administration and impose its own strict version of Islamic law across the country, of being al Qaeda's proxy in the failed Horn of Africa state.

AMISOM's spokesman in Mogadishu, Major Barigye Ba-hoku, denied on Friday that the AU soldiers had fired any artillery and blamed Thursday's civilian deaths on rebel bombs.

"We did not shell any place ... We are investigating and the Somali government is investigating too," Ba-hoku told Reuters.

"Al Shabaab wants to drag us into their war ... they shell us and then they also shell Bakara, then they tell people there it was AMISOM who killed civilians. We know their tactics."

Fighting in Somalia has killed 19,000 civilians since the start of 2007 and driven another 1.5 million from their homes, triggering one of the world's worst humanitarian emergencies.

Western security agencies say Somalia has become a haven for militants, including foreign jihadists, who are using it to plot attacks across the region and beyond.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni warned al Shabaab not to try anything. "These terrorists ... if they attempt to attack us, they will pay very heavily," he told reporters in Kampala.

CIVILIAN DEATHS "DISASTROUS"

Speaking to Reuters in neighboring Kenya, Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke denounced the insurgents.

"They are firing from Bakara and even mosques. They are using people there as human shields ... We regret what happened. It is never our intention to hurt our own people," he said.

Thursday's clashes were some of the heaviest to rock Mogadishu for weeks, and they underlined the difficulties facing the 5,000-strong AU mission.

While winning some hearts and minds by giving residents access to clean water and free medical treatment, AMISOM has been unable to do much more than secure the city's airport, sea port, presidential palace and a few roads in between.

Its soldiers come under near-daily attacks from roadside bombs and rebel artillery, and last month al Shabaab hit their main headquarters with a twin suicide car bombing that killed 17 peacekeepers, including the Burundian deputy force commander.

"We do not take their threats lightly," Ba-hoku said. "Any attempt to attack Burundi or Uganda will be met with decisive action and will be defeated."

Several African nations had committed to send troops to reinforce AMISOM but have so far failed to do so, some saying in private that they are put off by the incessant violence.

Despite that, Mogadishu-based political analyst Abdikarim Omar said AMISOM was still better organized and armed than the rebels, and it should begin a drive to clear them from the city.

"They should launch a major offensive ... This endless shelling of commercial and residential neighborhoods, the killing dozens of innocent people, is more disastrous than a two- or three-week operation." he told Reuters.

Source: The Star.
Link: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/24/worldupdates/2009-10-23T234031Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-433826-5&sec=Worldupdates.

Somalia: Al Shabaab Seize Control of Kismayo After Battle

1 October 2009

Kismayo — The Somali insurgent faction Al Shabaab has seized control of the southern port of Kismayo, after hours of fighting with Hizbul Islam rebels, Radio Garowe reports.

Heavy fighting erupted in Kismayo around 7am local time on Thursday morning, after Al Shabaab fighters attacked Hizbul Islam positions in Kismayo's northern neighborhoods.

At least 30 people have been killed in more than five hours of fighting, including 10 civilians who died after their fleeing vehicle overturned in the outskirts of Kismayo, local sources reported.

Kismayo medical sources said 70 wounded persons were admitted since the fighting erupted, with the city's main hospital reportedly overcrowded.

Senior commanders of Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam were killed during the fighting, including the commander of Anole fighters, a man named Ali Said.

Anole is one of four factions that merged to form Hizbul Islam in Feb. 2009.

Inside sources said Al Shabaab's top commander for the Jubba regions, where Kismayo is located, died during the heavy fighting. The commander was named Aden Dhagoweyne, according to local reports.

Al Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Ali "Dheere" Mohamud told reporters in Mogadishu via a telephone press conference that Al Shabaab is not at war with Hizbul Islam.

"This war is not among the Mujahideen," said Sheikh Ali Dheere, adding: "Sheikh Ahmed Madobe [alone] is responsible for the war."

Sheikh Ahmed Madobe, a senior commander of Ras Kamboni Brigade, also part of Hizbul Islam, led Hizbul Islam fighters into Kismayo earlier this week to challenge Al Shabaab's unilateral rule.

In Mogadishu, Hizbul Islam spokesman Sheikh Ismail Haji Addow urged Al Shabaab to "stop the war" and said Hizbul Islam fighters were "defending themselves."

As of Thursday night, uneasy calm returned to Kismayo after Hizbul Islam fighters withdrew from the port town. Heavily-armed Al Shabaab guerrillas were reportedly patrolling Kismayo's five neighborhoods.

Source: allAfrica.
Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/200910010957.html.

Al-Shabaab beheads 'CIA agents'

Tue Sep 29, 2009

Somalia's most powerful militant group, al-Shabaab, has reportedly executed two alleged CIA agents in the country's restive capital, Mogadishu.

The group, which has publicly announced its loyalty to al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, issued the execution order after finding the two men guilty of spying for the United States.

According to witnesses, the two men were shot dead early on Monday in al-Shabaab's Maslah camp in northern Mogadishu.

The development comes as government troops recaptured the strategic central town of Beledweyne, some 332 kilometers (206 miles) north of the capital.

Heavy Fighting erupted early on Monday after Somali soldiers carried out a pre-dawn attack on the town's western wing, forcing rebels loyal to another influential militant group called Hizbul Islam to evacuate their bases.

The number of casualties remain unclear, with some sources saying as many as 15 people, most of them militants, were killed in the attack.

Meanwhile, the beleaguered capital was the scene of more fighting, where at least 10 people were killed and 18 others injured, following fierce clashes between African Union troops and rebel forces.

Several artillery shells fired from both sides also slammed into residential areas, claiming an unknown number of civilian lives.

Rebel groups are fighting to overthrow a fragile western-backed transitional government in the Horn of Africa nation.

Violence has intensified in Somalia since an inland US operation angered the rebels, who have ever since vowed to retaliate with more attacks.

The US claims that the air strike had killed an alleged operative working for al-Qaeda.

Somalia has been marred by two decades of civil strife following the ouster of former dictator Mohammad Siad Bare in 1991.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/107385.html.

Somalia: Islamist Leader Snubs Al Shabaab Rulers in Kismayo

24 September 2009

Kismayo — Sheikh Hassan "Turki" Abdullahi, the leader of Ras Kamboni Brigade and a reputed member of Hizbul Islam faction, told reporters in the Somali capital Mogadishu during a Thursday press conference that he "will not accept" the new administration in Kismayo.

"I will not accept the new administration for Kismayo and I support the former administration, which did not favor [any] particular group," said Sheikh Hassan Turki.

On Wednesday, Al Shabaab spokesman in Kismayo, Sheikh Hassan Yakub, told reporters that the city's new administration has changed its name to the Islamic Walayah of Jubba and comes under the direct control of Al Shabaab.

Kismayo has been tense in recent weeks as Islamist factions compete for control of the city, which is prized with an international airport and a main port along Somalia' s Indian Ocean coastline.

"We were not informed about the new administration [for Kismayo] and we feel that we were ignored and Al Shabaab has violated the promise to jointly rule Kismayo," said Sheikh Hassan Turki.

He urged Al Shabaab leaders to "end the bias" against Hizbul Islam factions, which control parts of southern Somalia and are actively fighting to topple Somalia's UN-backed interim government in Mogadishu, which Islamist hardliners accuse of being a puppet of Western interests.

The dispute between Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam has been brewing in recent months, especially over control of Lower Jubba and Gedo regions, which border Kenya and Ethiopia.

Source: allAfrica.
Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/200909240712.html.

Somali insurgents warn schools not to use UN textbooks

20 Sep 2009

Somalia's hardline al Shabaab insurgents have warned schools not to use textbooks provided by UN agencies and other donors they accuse of being un-Islamic.

The rebel group, which Washington says is al-Qaeda's proxy in Somalia, hit the African Union's main base in Mogadishu with twin suicide car bombs on Thursday, killing 17 peacekeepers in a country of growing concern to Western security analysts.

The attack raised serious questions about the credibility of the nation's fragile UN-backed government, which controls just some of Somalia's central region and parts of the capital.

And in a sign of the insurgents' growing influence in the chaotic city, the rebels issued orders to schools on Saturday.

"Some UN agencies like UNESCO are supplying Somali schools with text books to try to teach our children un-Islamic subjects," al Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage told Koranic students gathered at Mogadishu's Nasrudin mosque.

"I call upon all Somali parents not to send their youngsters to schools with curriculum supported by the UN agencies."

Fighting has killed more than 18,000 civilians since the start of 2007 and driven another 1.5 million from their homes.

Together with another rebel group, Hizbul Islam, al Shabaab has been battling government troops and the AU peacekeepers to impose its own strict version of Islamic law throughout Somalia.

Al Shabaab's stern religious views are rejected by many Somalis, who are traditionally moderate Muslims. But some residents do credit the gunmen with restoring relative stability and a measure of law and order to areas under their control.

In July, the group barred three U.N. agencies from operating on its territory, saying the UN Development Program, UN Department of Safety and Security and UN Political Office for Somalia were working against the creation of an Islamic state.

Source: The Daily Telegraph.
Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/somalia/6211720/Somali-insurgents-warn-schools-not-to-use-UN-textbooks.html.

'Al-Shabaab plans more raids on AMISOM'

Sat Sep 19, 2009

The Somali Defense Ministry claims it has information that more suicide attacks have been planned to be carried out on 8 bomb-laden vehicles carrying UN logo.

In a press conference in southern Mogadishu, the ministry confirmed that the Somali government has been informed about al-Shabaab's plans for conducting new suicide attacks on AMISOM troops inside Somalia by using eight stolen cars belonging to the United Nations, a Press TV correspondent reported.

The Somali government has tightened the security measures ahead of planned attacks on AMISOM troops.

In the meantime, a senior al-Shabaab member said that false information have been given to the Somali government.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/106602.html.

Somalia: U.S. and UN Disagree on Talks with Al-Shabab

16 September 2009

For the first time in the history of Somali conflict, external actors have openly clashed over policies aimed at talks with Somali Islamist militants groups such as Al Shahab. In an interview with the BBC radio 4 flagship today program, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah the UN Special Representative to Somalia said he supports the idea of talks with any Somali.

"I invite any Somali, whatever he is, extremist or not, to make the first step to rebuild his country. I am open to all of them, any Somali who needs to make peace, my door is open, my telephone lines are open, I am ready to call them and I call them. We should not raise the level of the discussion to US. US has nothing to do with it.

"The US Ambassador to Kenya, Michael Ranneberger disagrees: "No, definitely not. The Al Shabab lacks any legitimacy in Somalia. I mean, they are an extremist group with significant outside support. I think that is, by and large, something anathema to the Somali people. I know what our position is. It is not appropriate for us or for the TFG to be talking to the Al Shabab. They don't have the legitimacy that entitles them to be talked to," he told Mike Thompson of the BBC.

The Current TFG president, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and expanded Somali transitional parliament are result of negotiations with the Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia. The United States supported the talks facilitated by the UN but now opposes any talks with Al Shabab, and seems to be discouraging the TFG from talks with moderate members of Al Shabab.

The Somali crisis has entered new stage in which the impact of the external actors' policies on the Horn Africa country's troubles is becoming clearer.

Source: allAfrica.
Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/200909160818.html.

Somalia: Harakat Al-Shabab Mujahideen Officials form Administration for Beled Hawo Town

Beled Hawo — The Islamic administration of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen officials have formed an Islamic administration in Beled Hawo town in Gedo region, officials told Shabelle radio on Friday.

The officials announced the new administration yesterday afternoon in Beled Hawo won which is in the border between Somalia and Kenya saying that the administration changed the former administration of Harakat Al- Shabab Mujahideen who manned the region for over the past months.

Sheik Osman Mohamed Abdi, the deputy chairman of Gedo region explained more about the new administration for the reporters in Beled Hawo town early on Friday morning and how they had chosen the officials saying that they were consisting of 5 members.

Sheik Aden Mohamed Barre, the former chairman of Harakat Al-Shabab Mujahideen in Beled Hawo town was appointed to be the head of social affairs of the town.

Asked about what the new administration could increase the town, sheik Osman Mohamed Abdi, the deputy chairman of the Islamic administration replied they would work the service of the population by following the Sharia law.

However the formation of the new Islamic administration comes as there had been clashes between forces loyal to Harakat Al-shabab mujahideen and Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a in parts of the region.

Source: allAfrica.
Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/200909040857.html.

Somalia: Al-Shabaab Leader Targets Somaliland

Nairobi — The Amir (leader) of Al-Shabaab, the strongest Islamist movement challenging the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia, has accused the Somaliland authority of oppressing the Muslim people in the region.

Sheikh Mukhtar Abdurahman Abu Zubayr, through a circulated voice message, said: "This authority prevents the Muslim society there from implementing sharia (Islamic) laws,".

"Such action leaves the people without progress," he added.

The Al-Shabaab leader, who himself comes from Somaliland, urged the people there to rise against the government and the power structure.

He indicated that since the independence from Britain in 1960, the region has been ruled through un-Islamic governing systems that lead to disappointments.

Sheikh Abu Zubayr blamed the government in Somaliland of having wasted the people's time by unsuccessfully seeking international recognition for over 18 years.

"This authority's search for recognition and the hazy democracy it follows amounts to treachery," said the sheikh.

"The government in Somaliland has only achieved low income, unemployment, poor infrastructure and economic collapse," remarked Sheikh Abu Zubayr.

Source: allAfrica.
Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/200909030736.html.

Somalia: Harakat Shabab Mujahideen Amir Sends Warning Message to Somaliland

Mogadishu — Sheik Moktar Sheik Abdirahman (Abu Zubair), the Amir of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen has Thursday sent a recording type warning to the breakaway republic of Somaliland.

The official said that some of the seaports of Somaliland administration like Barbera were handed to Christians saying that Ethiopians import what ever they want and uses it as is needs.

The Amir of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen warned the population of Somaliland to rent houses from the Ethiopians and also to be near the Ethiopians and make them servant saying that Somaliland administration had handed more Somali people to Ethiopia than those that are currently in the Ethiopian prisons.

The Amir of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen also talked about the following election that will be held in Somaliland saying that those elections are aimed at disgracing the reputation of the holy Koran and rob the property of the people.

He called for all the population of Somaliland to count with the government led by President Dahir Riyale, pointing out that he has relations with Ethiopia.

Lastly he called for the young teenagers, clerics and the different parts of Somaliland population to protect the problems of Ethiopia in the region.

Source: allAfrica.
Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/200909030786.html.

Al-Shabaab, clans fight in central Somalia

MASAGAWAY, Somalia, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- At least four people were slain in fighting between the al-Shabaab group of Somali insurgents and local clan militias Wednesday, witnesses said.

The fighting in the central Somalia town of Masagaway started after the clan militias attacked the town, residents told the Shabelle Media Network. They said the dead didn't include any civilians.

The news agency said the militias wrested control the town from al-Shabaab, which had controlled Masagaway for a year. The fighting had stopped by late Wednesday and the situation appeared calm, Shabelle said.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/02/11/Al-Shabaab_clans_fight_in_central_Somalia/UPI-55101234377360/.