Al Shabaab Speaks to Uganda and Nigeria

Bill Roggio at Long war Journal reported on a recent press release by Ali Mohamud Raghe (Sheikh Ali Dhere). of special note:

"We call on our brothers [Al Qaeda] to come to Somalia and to help us expand the East Africa jihad," Rage told reporters, according to Garowe Online.

second,

On Dec. 23, Rage also held a press conference to "inform our brothers in

• Afghanistan,
• Iraq,
• Nigeria
• Uganda

of the Shabaab/Hizbul Islam merger, and he threatened the eastern African nations of Uganda and Burundi, which make up the African Union forces fighting in Mogadishu.

"We, al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam have united and we warn

• Uganda
• Burundi forces

and their people that we shall redouble our attacks," Rage said, according to Reuters. "We also inform our brothers in

• Afghanistan,
• Iraq,
• Nigeria
• Uganda,

that we have united in one name -- al Shabaab."
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Since Uganda and Nigerian Mujahadeen Islamist movements are fledgling operations. It is interesting to hear them speak directly to them. Perhaps there is more a direct link

-Shimron Issachar

Islamist Unity in Somalia

There is a big show of unity between Awayes and leaders and some Junior leaders of al Shabaab. Actually, it looks like al Shabaab defeated Hizbul Islam, and offered the survivors death or enlistment. Aweys cares not, as long as he becomes the head of an Islamist state in Somalia. Conspicuous in his absence is Adbi Godane, or Mukhtar Abdirahman Abuu Zubeyr). Where is he?

Shimron Issachar


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At least 17 people were killed in the Somali capital Mogadishu during Tuesday clashes, as Islamist leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys publicly declared his support for the merger of Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam insurgent factions, Radio Garowe reports.




The fighting started overnight Monday and continued into Tuesday, with Somali government forces and allied African peacekeepers (AMISOM) repelling attacks by Al Shabaab insurgents.

Most of the violence was concentrated around Mogadishu's Hodan, Bondhere and Abdiaziz districts. Medical workers reported more than 32 wounded persons were admitted to local hospitals.

Witnesses said 8 civilians were killed in two separate incidents when an artillery shell hit residential areas in Kaaraan and Howlwadaag, which are districts outside of Tuesday's fighting zone.

A businessman in Bakara Market, a notorious insurgent stronghold since early 2007, confidentially told Garowe Online that AMISOM peacekeepers had moved "too close" to the market.

"There is plenty of fear that the fighting will spread into Bakara Market," said the business source who declined to be named for security reasons.

Al Shabaab-Hizbul Islam merger

Mogadishu has been wracked by insurgent violence since early 2007, when Islamist fighters went underground and spearheaded a bloody insurgency to overthrow the country's internationally recognized but weak Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

In Feb. 2009, a new Islamist faction was established under the leadership of Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, who formed the Hizbul Islam insurgent group with the goal of toppling the TFG and installing an Islamist regime in Mogadishu.

On Tuesday, Sheikh Aweys appeared at a public rally with Al Shabaab leaders including Sheikh Fuad Shongole and Sheikh Ali Dheere, Al Shabaab's propaganda chief and spokesman, respectively.

The event was held in Afgoye, a small farming town 30km south of Mogadishu and formerly a major base for Hizbul Islam faction.

Sheikh Aweys said: "I am pleased to witness the unity of Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam. I urge all Islamist fighters and all Muslims to join the war."

He called on AMISOM troop-contributing countries, namely Uganda and Burundi, to "pull out your troops or they will return to you dead."

Sheikh Shongole, who is Al Shabaab's third-in-command and chief of propaganda, bragged that he survived a mosque last May to "witness to the unity of the Mujahideen [holy warrior] in Somalia."

Aweys' failure

It is a major change of fortune for Sheikh Aweys, who led all Somali Islamists under the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) umbrella in 2006. The ICU militia seized Mogadishu in June 2006, but were ousted by the Ethiopian army's invasion six months later.

The ICU splintered into three factions: Al Shabaab; Hizbul Islam, led by Sheikh Aweys; and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS), led by Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, who became TFG President in Jan. 2009.

Insiders say Sheikh Aweys, who was the leader of all ICU splinter groups in 2006, has now surrendered his seniority and leadership over to junior officers within the former ICU group, but who are now top leaders in Al Shabaab group.

Those who know Sheikh Aweys describe him as a man obssessed with becoming the President of Somalia one day, but his aspiration faces many obstacles not the least of which is that he is on the U.S. terrorism watch-list.

Somali insurgents have remained unable to over-power the 8,000-strong AMISOM peacekeeping force, which guards the port, airport and presidential compound.

Upwards of 21,000 have been killed in the Somali insurgency since early 2007, with more than 1million people displaced.

The Rest @ Garowe Online

Kidnapped Child Soliders make up al Shabaab Mustafa Abul Yaziid Brigade

This report, published on October 22nd, 2010, describe a new Al Shabaab Brigade being formed by pulling children out of school and giving them weapons. The unit, recently put on a demonstration in Mogadishu. This suggests an offensive is being planned. It may be being led by some new Shabbab officers.

-shimron Issachar

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The Al-Qaeda linked insurgent group of Al-Shabaab has recently recruited some senior officers of Al-Shabaab and has presented in Mogadishu, hundreds of freshly trained young Somali generation, trained by the Al-Qaeda foreigner fighters. Those are hiding in the Somali territory are to take part what they call a Holy war (Jihad) against African Union Peace keeping troops, and the troops of the transitional federal government of Somalia.

The recruitment of this generation came after Al-Shabaab began to register large numbers of generations without considering their age. There are under age children not able to carry guns they are to fight with, these children are believed to be forcibly removed from the schools and villages in the areas. Those who choose not to are labelled non-believers and can be executed by beheading.

The troops wear the same military clothes and are armed with different weapons, with motorbikes and other military carrier vehicles, the soldiers were announcing Arabic words against AMISOM, AU, UN and the West.

The deputy leader of Al-Shabaab, Sheikh Mukhtar Robow (Abu-Mansour) and the Spokesman of Al-Shabaab Sheikh Ali Mohamud Raghe (Sheikh Ali Dhere) were in the area where the fresh troops presented military marches and commando presentations in front of thousands of people who gathered at the area. They also named these soldiers the brigade of “Mustafa Abul Yaziid”.

The seniors who were addressing to the soldiers and the people who support them told that this brigade will revenge for the Mustafa Abul Yaziid, one of Al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan who died in the past month in a joint offensive carried out by the American and Afghan troops, also they have told that these troops will be destroyed with their military experience and civilian support, along with the unstoppable power of the African Union Peace Keeping troops in Somalia.
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The Rest @ Demotix