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March 14, 2006

Somalia: Islamic Courts Vow To Control Mogadishu By Force

We have reported on the dire state of Somalia, where in Mogadishu, the capital there are numerous roadblocks, where extortion demands are made upon travelers, and armed bandits roam about the city in broad daylight. Yet these activities are ignored while the Islamic courts harass cafes, sports bars and movie theaters, because these are considered more sinful and "anti-sharia".

On October 17 last year, the thugs from the Union of the Islamic Courts decided to trash the film-editing studio, where Indian Bollywood films were dubbed into SOmali for home viewing. During the raid which was approved by their leader, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed (pictured above), computers and editing suites were destroyed, and money and personal items such as jewellery were robbed from the workers at the studio.

Today, Shabelle News Network describes how Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, speaking as head of the Union of Islamic Courts, has announced the formation of paramilitary "special units" to control the capital.

The Islamic militias are no strangers to armed conflicts. On November 15, they decided to close down cinemas in a part of the capital already protected by a paramilitary group. In the shooting that ensued, 12 people were killed over two days of conflict.

Another of the prominent members of the Union of Islamic Courts is Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys (pictured left) who after 9/11 was linked by the US with al-Qaeda. He has his own private militia, and in practical terms, his armed supporters protect him. We mentioned on October 21 Sheikh Aweys was already arming hundreds of men in his own paramilitary force.

The warlords who operate in Somalia have been able to control their own slices of the nation since the fall of Said Barre more than 14 years ago. Against this climate of lawlessness, some of the citizens of the nation tried to secede, forming their own nation within a nation, called Somaliland in 1991. Though not officially recognised, Somaliland is comparatively peaceful, despite attempts by Islamist insurgents, assisted by Al Qaeda, to disrupt and destabilise it.

The warlords are involved with the hijacking of ships carrying food relief to Somalia, and also piracy along the coast. Some of these warlords are believed to be within the Somali government, which in Mogadishu has virtually no power nor control.

Recently, some of the members of the Union of Islamic Courts have been killed. The most recent of these was Sheikh Osman Sheikh Ibrahim, who was killed near his home at Bakahara Market, Mogadishu, last night.

Sheikh Sharif Ahmed said that the new "Special Units" would pursue those who committed such killings of religious leaders, and also those who plotted assassinations against former army officers and civil society activists.

He also blamed the killings directly upon the United States and neighbouring Ethiopia, whom he said employed "unkind and ignorant murderers who stay in Mogadishu."

Warlords recently created an an "anti-terror alliance". Yesterday, the leader of this alliance, Abdi Nore Siad, said: "Our alliance works out the peace activities and to fight against criminal groups who commit terror acts inside the country particularly in Mogadishu."

Siad claimed that the alliance had no contacts with any groups from outside Somalia.

Recently, this alliance was in an armed conflict with a militia led by Shiekh Sharif Sheikh Hassan, another member of the Union of Islamic Courts.

The decision of the Islamic Courts to create a larger paramilitary force than the existing armed militias under its control may bring some sort of peace to the capital. Alternatively, it could see an intensifying of sectarian conflicts.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at March 14, 2006 7:27 PM

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