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April 27, 2006

Somalia: Islamic Courts And Anti-Terror Alliance Threaten More Violence

Today Somalinet reports that the tensions which have existed since a temporary truce between the militias allied to the Islamic Courts and those allied to the Anti-Terror Alliance are threatening to break out into open bloodshed again.

We reported on March 14 that Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, leader of the Union of Islamic Courts would take over the city of Mogadishu by force. Already the Islamic courts had been acting as vigilantes, destroying sports bars, closing cinemas, and even vandalising a film-dubbing studio. Their militias use violence, and also theft. In November, at least 12 people were killed in a shoot-out when they tried to close one cinema.

The Counter-Terror Alliance, headed by Abdi Nore Siad, was formed in February this year. This group was started to counter the endemic violence in Mogadishu. Between February 18 and Feb 22 this year, a battle between the ALliance and an Islamic militia led by Shiekh Sharif Sheikh Hassan of the Union of Islamic Courts led to 22 people being killed, and more than 120 wounded. The Union of Islamic Courts blame the Alliance as being backed by Ethiopia and the United states. As recently as yesterday, as reported by Somalinet Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed of the Union accused the Alliance of being funded by Israel, Ethiopia and Israel.

A week after Ahmed's announcement on March 14 that the Islamic Courts' militias were going to take Mogadishu by force, they began an insurgency. Islamic militiamen travelled to northern Mogadishu on buses, wearing civilian clothing and carrying concealed weapons. They came to one of the checkpoints at the residential neighbourhood of Galgalato, and jumped from the buses, seized three trucks with mounted machine guns.

A full-scale battle ensued, with Union and Alliance forces pitted against each other, and bringing in reinforcements. By the time a ceasefire was brokered five days later, at least 93 people had been killed, and more than 200 injured, many of them civilians, including children.

Since then there has been constant bickering and threats between the two sides. On April 1 we reported that an attack was made upon an Islamic Court. Two civilians, a man and a woman, were killed in the attack, and a third individual, a male civilian, was injured. The attack happened in a fiefdom of the warlord Muse Sudi Yalahow who is the Somali Trade Minister, and also a member of the Counter-Terror Alliance.

On April 19, following Friday prayers, Sheikh Nur Ollow of the Union of Islamic Courts told followers that it was time for a jihad to be waged against he warlords. Sheikh Mohamed Ibrahim Sulley said: "As it says in the Koran, the fight against those who are promoting hostility and fighting against Islam is a holy war. Any war against the warlords is a holy war and a sacrifice in the name of Allah."

"Let us eliminate these warlords and set up a peaceful administration supported by the vast majority of people in Mogadishu," he said. "Down with the agents of America and down with agents promoting Satanic teaching."

At that time, according to Reuters AlertNet, the two factions were regrouping for war. Shabelle News reported that Abdikasim Salad Hassan (pictured), former president of the government formed in Arte Dkibouti, expressed concern over the mounting tensions between the two groups. He urged citizens to organise and protest against the tyranny of the warlords, who have kept the nation in chaos since Said Barre, the former dictator, was ousted in 19991.

The same day, CBS News reported that the food crisis was worsening in Somalia, as a result of the clashes between warlords and Islamic militias. International aid groups are being forced to operate from neighbouring Kenya because of the threat of violence.

The situation has been uneasy between the Counter-Terror Alliance, which is includes warlords in its leadership, and the Union of Islamic Courts. Yesterday, Mercury News reported that a battle took place at a school in Mogadishu Wednesday, in which at least two people were killed. The fighting again took place in the fiefdom of Muse Sudi Yalahow, the Trade Minister. Islamic militias had taken control of the school, and Alliance members tried to reclaim it. One Islamic militiaman was killed in the fighting, and one teenage boy was killed in the crossfire.

On Sunday (23 April), seven people were killed in fighting between rival militias trying to gain control of a neighbourhood within Mogadishu.

Yesterday, Shabelle News and Somalinet reported that Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, leader of the Union of Islamic Courts held a press conference, in which he reaffirmed his commitment to the cause of the Islamic militias. "The Islamic courts are in favour of the local militias who were devoted to secure their settlement," he said.

Today's report from Somalinet claims that members of the Alliance are gathering weaponry. The Alliance have been purchasing pick-up trucks, and recruiting new fighters. They are concerned to fight the Islamic militias, who wish to establish theocratic rule in the country. They claim they wish to defeat "terrorist cells in the country". Members of Al Qaeda have been active in Mogadishu for more than a year, and it seems that their allegiance would be toward the Union of Islamic Courts. Western intelligence reports speak of the "creeping Talibanization" of the nation and state the Islamic Courts are potentially harbouring terrorists and training foreign fighters.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at April 27, 2006 8:50 PM

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