Tag Archives: Somalia

Hizbul Islam welcomed parliament’s unanimous vote to impose sharia. Two Medecins Sans Frontieres aid workers from Belgium and Holland were kidnapped in Bakool. Pirates have been operating from a captured Nigerian ship.

Somalia’s parliament has unanimously approved the implementation of sharia across the country. A man claiming to be a spokesman for the Somali pirate groups has vowed to retaliate against French and US warships operating in the region. Dutch commandos freed 20 Yemeni hostages and briefly detained seven pirates who had forced the Yemenis to sail […]

A spokesman for the Islamic Courts accused Shabaab of assassinating an ICU military leader and a member of parliament, and threatened to retaliate. Shabaab denied the charge and said it captured members of the ICU who attacked their bases in Mogadishu. Hizbul Islam urged the two groups to end the feuding.

A senior Islamic Courts commander allied with the interior minister was killed along with four others in fighting in Mogadishu. Shabaab rounded up 25 young men in Baidoa for “violating orders” and destroyed 100 Indian graves in Kismayo.

An Islamist member of parliament was assassinated in Mogadishu. Shabaab ordered women to wear the veil and businesses to close during prayer time in Baidoa. Nine people were wounded during clashes between government security forces in Mogadishu. A Puntland court sentenced 37 pirates to jail terms of three years each.

Ten people were killed after Islamist fighters and African peacekeepers exchanged mortar fire in Mogadishu on April 12. Two more people were killed after Shabaab fired mortars at the Mogadishu airport as a US congressman was departing. Leaders of the influential Hawiye clan said they have been threatened for participating in the peace process.

Somali pirates hijacked a US-flagged tug boat. French commandos rescued a family kidnapped by pirates, but one man was killed. Shabaab and the Ras Kamboni Brigade hailed the pirate attacks, said the pirates are “protecting the Somali coast,” and are “mujahideen.”

The government continues negotiations with al Qaeda-linked Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys. Al Shabaab shut down an independent radio station in Beled Hawo. The US freighter captain kidnapped on April 8 remains in the custody of priates.

Pirates have seized a cargo ship with a crew of 21 Americans about 400 miles off the coast of Somalia. The US crew appears to have regained control of the ship. Secret talks between the government and Hizbul Islam are reportedly underway; unconfirmed reports indicate Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys is participating in the negotiations.

Two American members of Shabaab who are based in Kismayo held a press conference to explain why they joined the group. Eight women were wounded in a mortar attack by Islamist fighters in Mogadishu. Pirates have seized five ships over the past two days.

Shabaab fighters killed four young men and wounded five more after ordering the men in Lower Jubba not to carry weapons in town. Hizbul Islam fighters killed two people in a mortar attack in Mogadishu. The Somali government ordered all aid groups to register or leave the country.

President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed denounced al Qaeda’s call for his overthrow. “Al Qaeda has not taught us religion and they have nothing for us,” Ahmed said. Seven Somalis were killed after Hizbul Islam attacked a Mogadishu police station and took it over.

Two people were killed during fighting in Mogadishu. The Ahlu Sunna Waljamea based in Bakool has joined government forces. It is estimated that more than 450 foreign fighters are allied with Shabaab. Priates hijacked two chemical tankers.