The Revival of Al-Ittahad Al-Islami

[Brave]

The Revival of Al-Ittahad Al-Islami

- Saturday, October 18, 2003 at 19:14

 

Mogadishu, (AllPuntland)- Reports from various sources indicate a major political realignment taking shape in Mogadishu between various radical groups and the faction leaders who boycotted the ongoing Somali Peace Process in Mbegathi, Kenya. A splinter group from the disintegrated TNG faction, headed by Abdiqassim, and faction leader Muse Sudi Yalahow, who both oppose the Peace Process, are now actively realigning themselves with the forces of Al-Ittahad Al-Islami and their enterprising support networks.

 

As reported recently by AllPuntland News , two Mogadishu based companies, Nationlink and HornAfrik, have proposed to these two faction leaders the abandonment of the Peace Process and the formation of an alternative hybrid alliance, comprising of all radical forces in Mogadishu, who oppose the talks in Kenya. The deputy of Omar Finish faction, Abdullahi Sh. Ismail confirmed the role of the two companies in the process that led to the formation of the Balad Alliance. Mr. Ismail confirmed that HornAfrik was instrumental in calling back the two leaders from the Peace Process, while NationLink paid US$36, 000 towards the formation of the Balad Alliance.

 

NationLink which is currently the largest telephone carrier company in Mogadishu and Kismayo, is by large measure a replica of the now defunct Al-Barakat Corporation. Certain Al-Itihad (in leadership position) shareholders of NationLink were always Al-Barakat shareholders. Al-Barakat was a banking/Hawala corporation found to be involved in terrorist money transfers and investment. Consequently, the assets of the corporation were frozen after September 11, 2001. Since the closure of al-Barakat, Nationlink spinned al-Barakat banking operations and established another Dubai-based Hawala/banking company by the name of Nationlink Towfiq. Telecom operations were likewise spinned -- Hormud in Mogadishu, TelSom in Hargeysa, and Golis in Puntland.

 

HornAfrik, on the other hand, is a radio and TV broadcasting company based in Mogadishu, which is wholly owned by Abdiqassim Salad Hassan's investors and close associates. The two companies have long been stalwart supporters of the Transitional National Government (TNG) and have recently been actively involved in forging the formation of the new alliance.

 

Both companies have cross-ownership of same investors and have since joined their militias in Southern Somalia. NationLink and HornAfrik envisioned the formation of Balad Alliance in an effort to prop up the weakened political positions of their protégés, Al-Ittahad and the TNG, who were behind the formation of Project Arta: theTNG.

 

The prime minister and the speaker of the parliament, broke ranks with the Arta president and the mandate of the TNG expired in early August. As a result, Abdiqassim found himself in a weakened and isolated position. Coincidentally, Al-Ittahad Al-Islami found itself in a similar position of isolation as it has been declining for sometime due to successive military defeats and political setbacks in Puntland and Gedo.

 

This new development unmasks and reconfirms the widely held suspicion that Islamic Fundamentalists were in fact the hidden hand behind the policies and the continuity of the TNG, for the last three years.

 

AllPuntland News Desk

[Liqaye]

hehehe this is umitigated nonsense , for several reasons foremost being that horn afriks coverage of the TNG has been neutral bordering on ambivalent.

 

Secondly as much as would like to accept the twisted cross ownership economic argument (borrowed lock,stock and barell form a U.S congressional report) and al-ittihad ownership of these companies I know that no somali company particularly in the hawala and telecomunications bussiness would ever survive in somalia, if it was seen to even be marginally under the influence of ANY faction, let alone invest in the politics of the nation.

 

Secondly if any one is remotely aware of what the somali "fundamentalists" have been doing over the past few years, they would not ascribe armed conflict to them.

 

Lastly when the TNG was created in Arta every clan, and political intreast attempted to varying degrees of sucsess to influence the newly formed goverment, some were better at it as in all political processes than others, al-islah and al-ittihad being some of the few who have.

 

I think that this article is another example of Cabdilahi yusufs hatred for all islamic forces, forces that very nearly cost him the control of his little fiefdom.

 

By raking up and regurgitating the old bugaboos he is trying as so many have done so before to cast and paint all opposition to his elevation to president in somalia, as fundamentalist or supported by them.

 

Will it work ...i dunno.

 

But it wont work with me.

[Gabbal]

Mr. Ismail confirmed that HornAfrik was instrumental in calling back the two leaders from the Peace Process, while NationLink paid US$36, 000 towards the formation of the Balad Alliance.

Who truly believes that this article has a drop of credibility in it? :rolleyes:

[Dhimbil]

People are desperate and resorting to desperate measures, now we are accusing each other who is more religious? :mad:

 

 

Can we savely say, Somalia is over, done?

[Rahima]

Who truly believes that this article has a drop of credibility in it?

Not I :rolleyes:

 

Can we savely say, Somalia is over, done?

No, there is still hope inshallah

[Saxardiid]

I think this story is part of scare tactics used by many warlords and their supports. Abdulahi yousuf, Hussien aideed, Shatigaduud and so forth get help from the Ethiopians who are in turn use these stories to get more money from the Bush administration. So when you hear stories like this, especially from warlords and their supporters, take it with a pinch of salt.

 

best wishes