Islamist rebels face off in southern Somali port

[Liqaye]

By Abdi Guled

 

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Rival Islamist insurgents are squaring up for a fight over southern Somalia's strategic port of Kismayu after hardline al Shabaab rebels unilaterally named a new administration to run the area.

A hard-line Somali Islamist prays near a roadblock in southern Mogadishu September 18, 2009. Rival Islamist insurgents are squaring up for a fight over southern Somalia's strategic port of Kismayu after hardline al Shabaab rebels unilaterally named a new administration to run the area. (REUTERS/Ismail Taxta)

 

Animosity has been growing between al Shabaab, which the United States says is al Qaeda's proxy in the failed Horn of Africa state, and another rebel militia, Hizbul Islam.

 

The growing rift between the south's two main rebel groups -- which both oppose the fragile U.N.-backed government -- only points to more violence in the country, where fighting has killed more than 18,000 civilians since the start of 2007.

 

Another 1.5 million have been driven from their homes, triggering one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. Aid officials say at least 60 percent of those in need of help live in areas controlled by the insurgent militias.

 

Both groups want to control Kismayu, which is a lucrative source of taxes and other income for their fighters, and until this week they controlled the port in an uneasy alliance.

 

Then on Wednesday, al Shabaab named its own local governing council, excluding all their Hizbul Islam rivals.

 

Residents say both sides are rushing in reinforcements in anticipation of battle, and on Thursday a senior Hizbul Islam leader said they would not recognise the new authority.

 

THEY SHOULD FEAR ALLAH

 

"The men who call themselves al Shabaab have formed an administration with disregard to the other mujahideen," Sheikh Hassan Turki, Hizbul's deputy leader and the commander of southern Somalia's Ras Kamboni militant group, told reporters.

 

"No one should claim total control of the city. There should be mediation before there is bloodshed ... they broke a promise about forming the town's administration and should fear Allah."

 

Leaflets denouncing al Shabaab, widely thought to have been printed by the Kamboni group, have been circulating in Kismayu in recent weeks, locals say, raising fears of a confrontation.

 

Security experts say Somalia is a safe haven for wanted militants, including foreign jihadists. On Wednesday the European Union's aid chief warned it risked becoming "the new Afghanistan" unless Western donors helped its government stop al Qaeda gaining a foothold in the region.

 

In the latest violence in the capital Mogadishu, clashes killed at least 12 people on Wednesday after insurgents attacked government forces and peacekeeping troops from a 5,000-strong African Union peacekeeping mission, AMISOM.

 

In their biggest attack on the peacekeepers so far, the rebels hit AMISOM's headquarters in the city with twin suicide car bombs a week ago, killing 17 soldiers from Burundi and Uganda, including the force's deputy commander.

 

Al Shabaab said it carried out the strike in revenge for the killing days earlier of one of Africa's most wanted al Qaeda suspects by U.S. special forces in the rebel-held south.

 

Hizbul Islam's leader, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, justified the use of suicide bombings and called for more such attacks on President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed's government.

 

(Additional reporting by Sahra Abdi in Nairobi; Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by David Clarke)

 

Copyright © 2008 Reuters

[Abtigiis]

Jalle Liqaaye, Xassen Turki is succumbing to the pressure from reerka. They have been asking for the 'shisheeye' leaders of Shabab to be dethroned.

 

I am happy because this will weaken the terrorists. Let them face off and wipe out each other. Whoever wins must be attacked immediately.

[Liqaye]

KISMAYO (Mareeg)—The Islamists in Kismayo are on the verge to fight in the town after one of top Islamist rebel leaders rejected a union of administration that al-Shabaab announced on Wednesday.

 

 

 

Sheik Hassan Abdullahi Hersi known as Turki boycotted an administration that al Shabaab announced on Wednesday.

 

 

 

Sheik Hassan Turki

 

“The administration which al Shabaab announced is against our previous promises and we do not recognize it,” said Sheik Hassan Turki.

 

 

 

Rankamboni and Anole rebel groups along with al Shabaab seized Kismayo from pro government forces in August 2008.

 

 

 

Residents say tension is very high in the port town of Kismayo today as the two sides regrouping and amassing troops in the town.

 

 

Sources say Raskamboni, one of the Islamist Insurgents fighting against the Somali government wanted to take over the leadership of Kismayo administration, but al Shabaab refused to do so.

 

 

Fighters loyal to Sheik Hassan Turki and Sheik Ahmed Madobe are regrouping in the town to fight against al Shabaab.

 

 

Letters reading that there was no any administration were seen in the town and the letters were written by Raskamboni Insurgent group.

 

 

The leader of the administration in Kismayo is from al Shabaab and his deputy is from Raskamboni, but the deputy governor from the Raskamboni joined al Shabaab.

 

 

When they were forming the administration in August 2008, al Shabaab promised they would hand over the leadership of the administration to Raskamoni after one year, but they have now rejected to hand over when the time of promise ended.

 

Mareeg Online

 

Really It is so odd to watch another group of waadad isku sheeg shooting themselves in the foot, in beledweyne even macow would not trust any agreement reached with the Al-shabaab and has opted to join Xisbul islam

[Johnny B]

^ I'm of the idea that We should support atheer Hassan this time so he can correct earlier mistakes, and no need to attack him later.

 

A timely move to jump off the sinking wagon of the terrorists.

After all Atheer Hassan is a Somali national.

[Che -Guevara]

A&T...You see want to see the poor people of Kismayo who are enjoying peace to be killed and displaced?

 

And who will replace Al-Shabaab exactly that will ensure peace and free commerce?

[Gheelle.T]

Originally posted by Abtigiis & Tolka:

Jalle Liqaaye, Xassen Turki is succumbing to the pressure from reerka. They have been asking for the 'shisheeye' leaders of Shabab to be dethroned.

 

I am happy because this will weaken the terrorists. Let them face off and wipe out each other. Whoever wins must be attacked immediately.

Ngonge's famous line "clan is everything" comes to mind!!

[Abtigiis]

Gheele, the same thought came to my mind. But I also know the same clan will be firing from the other side in this showdown.

 

Che, this is what Auden called the necessary murder. The peace you talk about is maintained at the cost of young girls stonned to death, especially when they are from looma-ooyaan section of the society. I prefer all out war to suh injustices.

[xiinfaniin]

Sh. Xassan Turki ma aqoonsani Maamulka Kismaayo mana jiraan cid la midowday Al-shabaab

Posted to the Web Sep 24, 09:18

 

Kismaayo:-Waxaa maanta shir jaraaid u qabtay Idaacadaha kale duwan ee ka howl gala gudaha dalka Soomaaliya Gudoomiye ku xigeenka ururka Xisbul Islaam Sh.Xassan Turki oo ka mid ah Hogaamiya yaasha Ururka Xizbul Islaam , Sh Xassan Turki ayaa ka horyimid maamul ay shalay kaga dhawaaqeen Xarakada shabaab Maamulka Kismaayo.

 

 

Gudoomiye ku xigeenka ururka Xisbul Islaam Sheekh Xassan C/laahi Xirsi Turki ayaa waxaa uu beeniyey in ay jiraan kooxo la misoobay Xarakada Shabaab ,Sh Xassan ayaa ku tilmaamay maamulkii shalay looga dhawaaqay Kismaayo mid balan ka baxa ah oo Al-shabaab ay ka baxeen balantii ay la galeen xoogagga Xizbul Islaami ee ku sugan Magaalada Kismaayo.

 

 

Gudoomiye ku xigeenka ururka Xisbul Islaam Sheekh Xasan Turki ayaa si cad u yiri ma aqoonsani Maamulkii shalay looga dhawaaqay Magaalada Kismaayo maadaama koox kaligeed ay is magacaabeen oo balantii ay kaga baxeen walaalahood kale, Sh Xassan Turki ayaa waxaa lagu tiriyaa ragga ay sidda weyn iskugu dhawaayeen Xarakada Shabaab arinkaas oo ay dad badan u arkaan in ay jirto kala fogaasho dhinac aragtid ah oo soo kala dhex gashay xoogagga Al-shabaab oo uu Sh Xassan Turki u fidin jiray taageero milateri iyo mid dhinaca tababarka ah.

 

 

Shirka Jaraaid ee Gudoomiye ku xigeenka ururka Xisbul Islaam Sheekh Xasan C/laahi Xirsi Turki ayaa waxaa uu ku soo beeg may iyadoo shalay uu afhayeenka Maamulka Kismaayo Sheekh Xasan Yacquub Cali uu tibaaxay in Maamulkoodii Kismaayo ay la midoobeen Maamulada ka jira Gobollada Jubooyinka ee ay ka arimiyaan Xoogagga Al-shabaab.

[xiinfaniin]

One after one, people will understand the nature of this organization. They will insha Allah come to the conclusion that if not corrected Alshabaab's current agenda is incompatible with the aspiration of the Somalia people.

 

The irony will very soon be that Aweys, Turki, and Mohamed Mire will soon find themselves in a situation not starkly different then that of Ahmed Shah Masoud.

[NGONGE]

^^ There are parallels with that one, true. But we have not reached the Masoud stage yet. I think we are still at the stage when the Russians withdrew and Hikmetyar and Rabbani started fighting over the presidency. Another ten years you say? I agree.

[xiinfaniin]

^^It could take 10 years. I do not however believe that Jubbooyinka will sustain this organization to last that long. It was the Bashtun strongholds that gave Sheekh Osoma's organization the political and military infrastructure it needed.

[Che -Guevara]

A&T...I'm hard-pressed to believe you actually care about the looma,ooyaan.

[Gheelle.T]

Soon we will see on this very SOL's screen familiar words such as "murtad Turki, khbeeth Aweys, and etc" just don't say you haven't been warned!

 

AT&T, I agree, but don't you think that Tolka's support will tilt toward Turki?

[SayidSomal]

Gheelle.T mada dhihi doona?

 

i waran saxiib - xagee ka dhacday??

[xiinfaniin]

^^mayyee,

 

Kashafa, Fabregas, iyo Labo Qoorood baa dhihi doonaa