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December 23, 2006

Somalia: Islamists Urge Foreign Muslims to Fight Ethiopia

The Islamists of Somalia have been engaged in a conflict with Ethiopian troops since Tuesday, with dozens on both sides killed. The fighting has been promised for months now, and during November, skirmishes began. Only now are these developing into an all-out war.

The first threats against Ethiopia began on July 21, accusing the neighboring nation of siding with the transitional government of Somalia, which is based in Baidoa. On October 8, the Islamists, led by the Al-Qaeda linked Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, announced a "holy war" against Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is predominantly Christian. Meles Zenawi, prime minister of Ethiopia, announced on October 24 that his country was in effect "at war" with Somalia. "The jihadist elements within the Islamic Court movement are spoiling for a fight. They've been declaring jihad against Ethiopia almost every other week. Technically we are at war, " he said.

On Friday November 17, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys announced that his forces would be working to regain "lost territory". He said: "It is unbelievable that a country population that is like one family to be divided into 10 parts. As Islamic Courts, we will not accept divisions and we will gain back the Somali provinces forcefully annexed to Ethiopia and Kenya."

"We will leave no stone unturned to integrate our Somali brothers in Kenya and Ethiopia and restore their freedom to live with their ancestors in Somalia." Aweys, in stating his true agenda, used the term "Greater Somalia".

The region of Ethiopia which is conceivably part of "Greater Somalia" is Ogaden. In 1977, socialist dictator Muhammad Siad Barre, who ruled from 1969 to 1991, invaded this region. The Somali troops were ousted from this part by Ethiopia, backed up by Cuban and Soviet military, in 1978. Siad Barre claimed one of the five points in the star of the Somali flag represented the "unredeemed" territories in Kenya's North East province, as well as Ogaden and Djibouti.

The Islamists are backed by extremists from Yemen and Eritrea. The latter naton is a sworn enemy of Ethiopia. Though Somalia's Islamists have taken in foreign jihadists to assist their aim, they have publicly denied this, and have condemned the transitional government of Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed in Baidoa for its links with Ethiopia. The transitional government was formed by the UN in 2004, and is the only legitimate holder of the title "government" in the nation.

On July 6, a month after the Islamists captured the capital, Mogadishu, video emerged of Arabs who had been fighting alongside the Islamists, despite their constant denials of using outsiders to fight their battles.

Today, Reuters AlertNet reports that the Islamists' defense chief Yusuf Mohamed Siad "Inda'ade" has urged foreign Muslims to join in their jihad against Ethiopia. He said: "Our country is open to Muslims worldwide. Let them fight in Somalia and wage jihad, and God willing, attack Addis Ababa."

Speaking in Mogadishu, he said: "We told the world to stop this problem. We told them to do something before it becomes a blazing fire that would engulf the region."

Osama bin Laden on June 30 made an audio message, in which he said: "We will continue, God willing, to fight you and your allies everywhere in Iraq and Afghanistan and in Somalia and Sudan until we waste all your money and kill your men." On July 1, he expanded on his theme, stating: "We will fight (US) soldiers on the land of Somalia ... and we reserve the right to punish it on its land and anywhere possible. We warn all of the countries in the world not to respond to America by sending international troops to Somalia."

Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys is undoubtedly linked to Al Qaeda. He founded the Islamist group Al-Ittihad al-Islami in the early 1990s, after Muhammad Siad Barre was ousted in 1991. Al-Ittihad al-Islami aims to establish an Islamic Sunni empire in Somalia. It is said to have links with Al Qaeda. It also had a presence in Ogaden in Ethiopia. The group tried to take over the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, but was chased out by Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed. In November 2002, the group is said to have carried out the bombing attack upon a Jewish-owned hotel in Kikambala, Kenya. 7 Kenyans and 3 Israelis were killed in the attack.

Al-Ittihad al-Islami carried out bombings in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia in 1996 and 1997, and in 1998 was behind the kidnapping of relief workers.

Al Qaeda has for more than a year been trying to strengthen its influence in the Horn of Africa. With its allies in the Islamic Courts of Somalia, it seems that the group is now actively pursuing a campaign to destabilize the entire region.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at December 23, 2006 7:31 PM

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