A radical Islamist terror group operating in southern Somalia has severed its ties to Hizbul Islam, joined Shabaab, and pledged loyalty to al Qaeda.
The Ras Kamboni Brigade released a statement last Friday announcing that it has merged with al Qaeda’s affiliate in Somalia and joined “the international jihad of al Qaeda.” The statement was signed by Sheikh Hassan Turki, the founder and leader of the Ras Kamboni Brigade, and Ahmed Abdi Godane, the spiritual leader of Shabaab.
“We have agreed to join the international jihad of al Qaeda,” the two groups announced in the joint statement, a portion of which was published by Reuters. “We have also agreed to unite al Shabaab and Kamboni mujahideen to liberate the Eastern and Horn of Africa community who are under the feet of minority Christians.”
“We have united to revive the military strength, economy and politics of our mujahideen to stop the war created by the colonizers, and to prevent the attacks of the Christians who invaded our country.”
The Ras Kamboni Brigade was founded by Turki, a former senior leader in the Islamic Courts and its predecessor, al Itihaad al Islamiyah. The Ras Kamboni Brigade is estimated to have between 500 and 1,000 fighters in its ranks, US intelligence officials familiar with the security situation in Somalia told The Long War Journal.
Turki operates terrorist training camps in southern Somalia and was likely the target of a US airstrike in March 2008. He is known to train suicide bombers in camps that are dotted along the southern border with Kenya.
The Ras Kamboni Brigade’s defection from the Hizbul Islam alliance is a blow to the latter group. Hizbul Islam is a radical Islamist group which is led by Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, who is wanted by the US for his ties to al Qaeda. Aweys co-led the Islamic Courts in 2006 until the group was ousted from power during the Ethiopian invasion in December 2006. Last September, Aweys advocated for more suicide attacks in the country, just days after suicide bombers struck an African Union base in Mogadishu.
Hizbul Islam was created in January 2009 with the merger of four separate Islamic groups: Aweys’ Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia-Eritrea; the Ras Kamboni Brigade; Jabhatul Islamiya (the Islamic Front); and Anole.
Although Shabaab and Hizbul Islam sought to merge forces last summer, the alliance was frayed by local disputes between factions of the two organizations. Relations between Shabaab and Hizbul Islam worsened after the groups began to battle in Kismayo over control of the southern port city.
Clashes between Shabaab and Hizbul Islam have persisted in southern Somalia, but Shabaab has had the upper hand. Despite the intra-Islamist fighting, the weak Transitional Federal Government, backed by thousands of African Union peacekeepers, controls only small enclaves within the capital of Mogadishu, and little else. A pro-government Sufi Islamist militia called Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’a controls some regions in central Somalia and often clashes with Shabaab and Hizbul Islam.
5 Comments
This is one of the best sources of information that I have. I know how much work this can be. Thanks to all for the hard work.
What is the US strategy on Somalia? Is there one? It seems like al Qaeda In the horn of Africa with somalia as it’s headquarters is inevitable.
Somalia must be placed back under United Nations mandate (rather than prop up a puppet government hated by the people, a la Afghanistan). Yes its colonization, but they are at rock bottom, and its obvious nationalism is near non-existant among the Somalis. Then it should be built up slowly from the bottom up. Also, with no puppet government, it removes the bureaucratic complications of governing by proxy as with Karzai.
Also, split off Somaliland and give it the extra boost it needs to complete its existance as a seperate and viable state. It is the only way to stop this civil war and prevent the likes of Al Qaeda from taking advantage.
Concerning the piracy being committed with Somalia as its base. The last time I checked, there were up to 14 nations whose citizens were being held hostage. And, it may take up to 14 nations in unison to respond to this threat.
Why not a combined rescue operation involving (at a minimum) NATO and other countries of origin of those hostages? This worked very well in Gulf War I.
By no means do I advocate an “invade and occupy” strategy, at least not in the long term. Only an operation long enough to liberate the hostages (and their ships and cargo), to be followed by what might be called a small Marshall Plan to get Somalia (and its people) out of its perpetual state of poverty, anarchy and chaos.
Again, as I’ve stated many times before, international terrorism is an international problem and it is going to necessitate an effective international counter-strategy.
Bill what’s the latest on Somalia? Lots of talk of TFG assault on shabaab in capital in wash post. Are Sufi militants also attacking? Will the Ethiopians be involved? Us drones need to be deployed lots of al Qaeda nasties will be out in public leading troops