Tag Archives: Somalia

Four people were killed during fighting between government forces in a village near Mogadishu. A newspaper claimed that the Puntland government is negotiating with Shabaab commander Mohamed Said Atom.

Shabaab forces near Kismayo executed a man accused of spying for the Ethiopian military and detained three people in El Bur. A Somali military commander threatened to battle Shabaab forces in Beledweyn.

Two people were killed in a grenade attack that targeted Somali troops in Mogadishu. Shabaab cut off a hand and a foot of a young man accused of stealing in Baidoa; the punishment was carried out in public.

Shabaab fighters are said to be complicit in the rape of a woman in El Bur. Shabaab arrested a doctor in El Bur. Three civilians were wounded in an IED attack that targeted Somali soldiers in Mogadishu.

Somali soldiers mutinied after failing to receive pay. Shabaab held a military parade in Lafole, a former Hizbul Islam stronghold. The governor of Mudug in Puntland survived an IED attack.

Shabaab killed three government soldiers in a firefight in Mogadishu and an Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a fighter in an IED attack. Shabaab is recruiting youth in internal refugee camps.

Fifteen people were killed in fighting between Shabaab and government forces in Mogadishu. Ethiopian troops disarmed Somali troops and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a fighters in Gedo.

Sheikh Muktar Abdelrahman Abu Zubeyr, Shabaab’s reclusive spiritual leader, issued a statement approving of Hizbul Islam’s merger with Shabaab and called for increased attacks against Somali and African Union forces. Ethiopian and Somali troops clashed in Hiraan province.

Shabaab and government forces fought in Beledweyne. France received a tape showing that an intelligence agent who was captured by Shabaab is still alive. The US issued a travel warning for American citizens considering going to Somalia.

Seventeen people were killed during fighting in Mogadishu. Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys praised Shabaab at a rally in Mogadishu. Shabaab’s leader in Kismayo vowed to send fighters to Mogadishu.

Five people were killed during a Shabaab attack on an African Union military base in Mogadishu. Shabaab arrested 10 khat traders in Jowhar. Shabaab leader Fuad Mohamed “Shongole” Qalaf threatened to attack the US.

Shabaab’s spokesman appealed to al Qaeda to send more fighters to Somalia to wage jihad against African Union forces and the Transitional Federal Government. Al Qaeda is rumored to have relieved Shabaab’s leader of command and replaced him with Ibrahim Haji Jama; the report is unconfirmed.

Shabaab confirmed it absorbed Hizbul Islam and called for more attacks against Uganda and Burundi. “We, al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam have united and we warn Uganda and Burundi forces and their people that we shall redouble our attacks,” Shabaab’s spokesman said.

Shabaab removed checkpoints formerly manned by Hizbul Islam on the roads south of Mogadishu. A former Hizbul Islam leader urged the group’s fighters to join the government. President Sharif urged soldiers to stop chewing khat.

Fighters formerly loyal to Hizbul Islam have poured into Mogadishu to swell the ranks of Shabaab. The African Union downplayed Hizbul Islam’s union with Shabaab. Shabaab arrested farmers who refused to sell their land to pro-Shabaab businessmen.

A Hizbul Islam spokesman confirmed that his group has merged with Shabaab; an announcement may be made this week. Four soldiers and a civilian were killed in an IED attack in Mogadishu.