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August 17, 2006

Somalia: Grip Of Islamists Grows Tighter

On June 5, the Islamist militias announced that they had finally taken control of Mogadishu, capital of Somalia. This victory had come after fighting which had started in February between militia from The Union of Islamic Courts, led by Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed (pictured left) and the militia of a group of warlords and businessman called the Counter Terror Alliance, initially led by Bashir Rage.

By the time the Islamists claimed victory, 350 had lost their lives in the skirmishes which had begun on February 22. Many of these were civilians. The country had been in administrative chaos since 1991, when Mohamed Siad Barre had been deposed.

A "transitional" government, the 14th attempt to create a legitimate administration in Somalia, was set up in Kenya in 2004, led by president Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed (pictured bottom, right) and prime minister Ali Mohamed Gedi . Because of the violence in Mogadishu, this government set up its base in Baidoa, 155 miles northwest of the capital.

On Saturday, June 24, a new body was formed, the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC), and its head was the cleric Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, who was one of the founders of the terror group Al-Ittihad al-Islami, which last year was placed by Britain on a list of prohibited organisations. Aweys is believed by many, including the United States, to being linked to Al Qaeda, a claim he denies.

Aweys (pictured below right) had been planning a takeover since October, arming hundreds of militia to prevent the UN-backed transitional government from gaining power. Aweys has a personal grudge against the leader of the "transitional government as president Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed had driven out Al-Ittihad al-Islami from its base in Puntland, northern Somalia, in the 1990s.

Aweys had effectively masterminded a coup within the Islamic Courts, placing himself as the elected head of a body above the existing Union of Islamic Courts. He said that he would be prepared to negotiate with the interim government, saying: "Somalia is a Muslim nation and its people are also Muslim, 100 percent. Therefore any government we agree on would be based on the holy Quran and the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad."

SInce then, as the Islamic militia have been enforcing more and more draconian rules upon the hapless populace of the territories it controls, the Islamic Courts have gradually spread in geographical and political influence.

We described on July 27 how the situation had become tense between the Islamists and the government of Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, with planned talks abandoned, then reinstated and then abandoned. By July 13, the port of Mogadishu had been handed over to Shekh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a week after they had gained control of the airport.

There were threats from the Islamists to wage Holy War upon the neighbouring country of Ethiopia, which the Islamists claimed had sent troops into the country to fight for the transitional government. The government denied this. The Islamists marched to within 38 miles of Baidoa, but then moved back.

On Friday July 28, a Somali government minister was killed by gunmen outside a mosque in Baidoa. Abdallah Deerow Isaq was leaving after prayers when he was killed. He had been the Constitution and Federalism Minister. Reuters quoted the Information Minister, Mohamed Abdi Hayr, as saying: "It looks like an organized assassination."

A plane arrived at the newly opened Mogadishu airport that day, the third such landing since the airport was reopened. Unidentified cargo was unloaded, which many assume to have been weapons, which the government claims are coming from Eritrea. As the goods were unloaded, roads were closed, and onlookers driven away from the scene. A similar plane load had arrived on Wednesday.

According to AP, there were riots following the killing of the minister. Two days earlier, another member of the government had been shot, but had survived his injuries. Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed was chairman of the parliamentary committee for constitutional affair. Rioters in Baidoa were calling: "We want a government that can restore law and order!"

On Saturday 29 July, a phone call announced that 25 hostages, who had been kidnapped by pirates in April, were going to be released, following the payment of $800,000. No information was given as to AP regarding the source of the ransom. The hostages comprised 8 South Koreans, 9 Indonesians, 5 Vietnamese and 3 Chinese. Their ship had been captured in international waters and then taken into Somali waters.

On 30 July, prime minister Gedi survived a no-confidence vote, brought by MPs apparently angered by his refusal to send a team to Khartoum to meet the UIC

On Wednesday August 2 CNN announced that 29 officials had left the transitional government. 18 had resigned late the previous week, five had resigned on August 1, and six more had resigned overnight.

Only 11 of these were full ministers, and the remainder were deputy ministers. One of those who resigned, Hasaan Abshir Farah, said: "The prime minister has failed to talk to the Islamic union."

The UK Independent stated that the exodus of ministers was giving power to the Islamists. Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys said the ministers were welcome to join his side. He said: "This is great step forward and we call everybody in the government to step aside. It is not the correct cabinet that fits Somali people, so they have taken the correct decision. Every government member is welcome to join the Islamists to participate in rebuilding peace in Somalia."

On August 4, the Islamists set up a film censor in Mogadishu, to decide which films could be shown, and which were to be banned.

On Monday August 7, President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed announced a plan which had been mediated by his Ethiopian allies, which would have created a smaller and more efficient cabinet, with the Prime Minister, Ali Mohamed Gedi, still in charge of the government. The scaled down government would have 31 ministers and 44 deputy ministers, a reduction on the original structure, which had 42 ministers and 80 deputies.

Since late July, a total of 43 ministers and deputies had resigned, mostly in protest at Gedi's policies, and his seeking military help from the Ethiopian government.

The following day, the proposed new cabinet plans were submitted to various clan leaders, for their approval.

On Wednesday 9 August, the Islamists made a move against the town of Beledweyne, near the Ethiopian border. This town is capital of the Hiraan region, and is 188 miles north of Mogadishu, the national capital. The town fell to the Islamists at 7 am, without a struggle. The governor of the town, Yusuf Ahmed Hagar, had been appointed by the transitional governmet. He fled across the border into Ethiopia.

Residents stated they thought that Hagar had gone to Ethiopia to seek military assistance. AFP via Yahoo, the Mail & Guardian, quoted the leader of the Islamist militia who had taken control, Yusuf Makaraan. He said: "We have full control of Beledweyne. The governor fled and we captured one battlewagon -- a pickup truck mounted (with) a machine gun -- from his fleeing forces."

The BBC who spelled the name of the town as Beletuein, said that residents approved the takeover by the Islamist militia. Strategically, the town of Beledweyne is regarded as an important victory for the Islamists. With this town under their influence, they can now move supplies from the north down to the south, unimpeded.

Earlier, there had been protests against the Islamist militia in one of the regions under their control, Galkayo. In Galkayo, which is 375 miles northeast of the capital, hundreds of people turned out with placards. The protests had been led by Islamic clerics who complained that the Islamists were too militant. Two people were injured in these protests. The militia from the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) were said to be controlling a road beside the town.

Galkayo adjoins Puntland, a semi-autonomous region, which does not support the Islamists. The UIC have sent representatives into the town to muster support for the establishment of an Islamic court in the town. Associated Press quoted from one of the demonstrators in Galkayo, who said: "We have demonstrated that Galkayo is stable. We do not need Islamic courts here."

Reuters reported that Ali Hirsi, one of the Islamists based nearby said: "Fighting can start anytime in Galkaayo, our militias are heading there." Hirsi Ali said that Abdi Awale Qaybdiid, a warlord (originally from the town) who had shown resistance to the Islamist militia in Mogadishu, had moved on Wednesday into Galkayo with dozens of battlewagons or "technicals", pick-up trucks with mounted guns. Hirsi claimed that 33 "technicals" from the Islamist side were to be deployed in the town, but this claim was denied by another Islamist, who said: "We (couldn't) care less about Abdi Qaybdiid.We have our militias in Galkaayo and plan to open an Islamic court there. We are for peace and come here to improve security. We have already removed so many checkpoints."

An article from the same day in Der Spiegel warned that Somalia was on the brink of falling to the Islamists, and becoming the first Islamic state in the Horn of Africa. It noted that the aircraft which had flown into Mogadishu the week before, ostensibly carrying weaponry, had the markings of Kazakhstan painted over. The Islamists had claimed that the aircraft had carried only sewing machines.

It quoted from Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, head of the UIC, as saying on a visit to Mogadishu: "We have a bright future ahead of us.We are cleaning up the city. Things are moving forward." He said to women present: "You are the future of the country. You are true Somalis."

Ahmed said to nearby men, carrying guns: "Stop shooting into the air. Airplanes will be landing here again soon, and we don't want to shoot them out of the sky."

Der Spiegel stated:

"Delegates routinely hurl insults and come to blows in the temporary parliament building, which is a former warehouse. The surface issue is a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi. But the underlying dispute hinges on whether the government should ask for Ethiopian assistance in its struggle against the Islamists. Both Ghedi and the president are seen as friends of Ethiopia, which accounts for the chaos in the provisional government. One parliament session almost became an all-out brawl, while guards outside nervously fingered their guns. In the end, the police quelled the uproar by arresting a few members of parliament."

On Monday August 14, according to Mail & Guardian, Middle East Online, Nasdaq and the BBC, the Islamists announced that they had taken over two coastal towns, Eldher and Harardheere, which had been used as pirate bases. As the Islamists moved in, pirates loyal to regional warlord Abdi Mohamed Afweyne moved out.

Sheikh Said Ali of the Islamic courts said: "The Islamic courts are in full control of Haradere and we were welcomed by its inhabitants, who were forcefully ruled by pirates. The era of banditry and piracy is over. People can now live peacefully and get money by fishing and doing other businesses, but not piracy. The pirates have mistreated people in the territorial waters of Somalia and damaged our credibility."

"The actions of the pirates were unlawful, unacceptable and un-Islamic. Anybody suspected of aiding pirates or being among them will be punished according to sharia law. The pirates are enemies of Somalia as well as the Islamic courts."

We reported on October 12 on the hijacking of large ships filled with food aid intended for poor people, which had been sent to the region by the United Nations World Food Program. The International Maritime Bureau had described Somalia's piracy problem as "the most serious in the world". It reports that there have been 21 incidents off the Somali coast between March 15 and October last year, making it as dangerous a stretch of water for piracy as the infamous Strait of Malacca in the Far East. By August this year, the figure had risen to 41.

On March 30 this year, an oil tanker was hijacked. In April, a 351-tonne South Korean tuna fishing vessel, the Dongwon-ho, was hijacked, and was only released in July after the payment of $800,000.

On Tuesday 15 August, the UN Integrated Regional Information Networks announced that the Islamists and the transtitional government had finally agreed to sit together in talks held in Khartoum, brokered by the Arab League. Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed announced: "We have decided to participate in the talks in the interest of the people." The last meeting had taken place on June 22, but July talks were abandoned as trust between the two sides deteriorated.

On the same day, Reuters via Mail & Guardian announced that in the north of Somalia, authorities loyal to the transitional government were hunting down clerics who were trying to impose Sharia rule in Puntland, the former domain of President Abdullahi Yusuf.

An Islamist, Sheikh Ahmed Shanle, had announced the formation of a sharia court in Las Anood district in Puntland on Sunday (Aug 13). A police officer from Puntland, Abdullahi Jama told the press: "The sheikh and his group escaped, but the police will catch and bring them to justice."

On Monday, two journalists who had announced the establishment of the Islamic Court were arrested, but later freed. Again on Monday, in Bossaso, Puntland's main port, police jailed an Islamist cleric and 10 of his supporters for trying to set up a sharia court.

As a result of the debacles, the Islamic Courts announced that they would now no longer partake in the talks in Khartoum. Samir Hosni, a negotiator for the Arab League, said: "We are not happy with the new position of the Islamic courts. They are the only side responsible for postponing the negotiations."

Also on Tuesday, according to Sudan Tribune, the Islamist militia sent a contingent to advance on the town of Buur Hakaba, in a rerun of a move they had made on 19 July.

The Islamists claimed that they had no intention of advancing on the nearby town of Baidoa, seat of the transitional government.

Yesterday, the BBC reported that the Islamists denied that they had taken control of another town, a port on Somalia's central coastline called Hobyo. Hobyo is close to the region of Puntland. Shabelle News had reported that Islamist militia on "technicals" had entered the town. An Islamic official said anonymously that: "We did not capture it but we reached the people of Hobyo to bring them our message of peace." Sheikh Hassan Dihir Aweys denied there had been a takeover. VOA News appears to believe that the Islamists have taken control of the town.

Also yesterday. SomaliNet reported that the Islamists have condemned neighbouring countries for denying the rights of Somali refugees. There were reports of people being deported from other countries, and arriving on planes bound for Mogadishu.

Sheikh Abdirahin Ali Mudey, head of information of the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts, said: "They are Somali nationals and are under investigation over why they were deported to Somalia. Many people deported from outside countries particular from western countries were on board latest flights to Mogadishu."

"The Islamic Courts are launching a big operation on securing the lost rights of the Somali refugees."

Also yesterday, news came from AFP via South Africa Sunday Times that the Islamist gunmen were in future to be issued with their own recognisable uniforms, according to a source at the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC). Ali Mudey said: "Uniformed troops will be deployed in Mogadishu and they will take care of security. If people feel any threats they should go to these troops. The media should not call the Islamic court fighters as 'militia' any longer. You should describe them as the Islamic court 'troops' or 'forces' if you like, but definitely not 'militia'."

But also on Wednesday, news came from South Africa's Independent that in Mogadishu, seven men were publicly given 40 lashes, accused of selling, or taking marijuana. The incident took place at the Konis Stadium. The marijuana was incinerated in front of the crowd.

Hassan Muhuyadiin, one of those who was whipped, said: "I did not commit any crime. I was just arrested and punished without any evidence."

The same report states that on late Tuesday evening, Islamist militia entered a makeshift video hall where people were watching an Indian film. An eyewitness said: "The militiamen entered the building with long lashes in hands, they turned off the Indian film we were watching and started beating everyone, then everything turned chaotic."

The owner of the video hall, Abdulqadir Garyabis, said that the militia justified beating up the clientele because they were enforcing an edict which ruled such entertainment spots should be closed by 9 pm each evening.

Abdirahman Janaqaw, deputy leader of the SCIC sais that video halls "are the main source of drugs, crime and the spread of Aids."

Associated Press via Santa Barbara NewsPress reported on the whippings of the seven men. Sheik Farah Ali Hussein told the crowd at the stadium: "This punishment is in accordance with the Islamic law. Thank God, we can implement Islamic law in parts of the country freely and we hope we shall be able to do so throughout the country."

On July 9 we reported that in the public square of Jowhar, teenagers were given 40 lashes, accused of similar offenses.

A report from the Mail and Guardian claimed that many government soldiers have been defecting to the Islamists' side. Mohamed Ali Bilal, chairperson of al-Bayan Islamic court in Mogadishu said that at least 100 government soldiers had swapped sides. They had crossed into Islamist territory from Baidoa overnight, beinging with them seven battlewagons or "technicals".

He told AFP: "The militiamen communicated with al-Bayan Islamic court in Mogadishu and said they wanted to join our holy effort to bring peace to the Somali people. They are ideologically uncomfortable with the government and also claim to have been mistreated."

This has been a continuation of an article we produced here on July 21.

The saga continues.....

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at August 17, 2006 5:51 PM

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