Al Shabaab Cash Crisis is an Opportunity to find Funders

There is possible short term cash flow crisis for al shabaab, since Mukhtaar Abu Mansur Robow Acknowledge that Osama and Al Qaeda was a major funding source.

Osama may have gotten them funds, but the source of the funds is still out there. They key is to keep an eye on the Treasurer/Supply Chain Leaders of each of the Four al Shabaab organizations. It is likely those four will be reaching out to their low level funding administrators to try create a more direct link to the funders.

On a side note:

It is not new new that Al Qaeda helped overthrow General Mohammed Si’ad Barre's government in Somalis, but The statements by Mukhtaar Abu Mansur Robow, (al Shabaab's public spokeswoman) at Osama Ben Laden's Somalia memorial reminds us that al Qaeda has been active in Somalia with al Shabaab long before their affiliation became public.

-Shimron Issachar

**** See Below

An Al Shabaab leader this week claimed it was Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda that was instrumental in ousting Maj. General Mohammed Si’ad Barre, who headed Somalia's military regime.

Sheikh Mukhtar Rabow, a/k/a Abu Mansur, an Al Shabaab terrorist group official, made the claim while speaking at memorial in honor of the now deceased bin Laden on Wednesday in a town near the Somali capital of Mogadishu where Al Shabaab continues to rule.

“In [the early] 1990s, the martyred al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had sent a number of his fighters to Somalia to train some of Somali guerrillas in order to help depose Somali military regime,” Abu Mansur said, according to an unclassified intelligence report.

Abu Mansur claims that Osama also played a key role in financing the Somali Islamic forces and gave them material support such as providing them with firearms and rocket-propelled grenades and launchers.

He stated that Al Shabaab depends on the military and financial support of al Qaeda that both terrorist organizations are united.

Abu Mansur boasted that the killing of the al Qaeda leader in Pakistan will not undermine Al Shabaab's efforts and battles to topple the United Nations-backed government of Somalia, which is internationally recognized. Besides Somali government forces, African Union peacekeepers are posted in the war-torn country.

In 1998, when U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam were bombed with hundreds of people dead, bin Laden was blamed as the mastermind of those almost simultaneous terrorist attacks.

The Al Shabaab leader noted during Osama bin Laden's memorial service that bin Laden's al Qaeda played a major role in the 1993 U.S. special forces (Rangers, Delta Force) battle with Somali militia leader Mohamed Farah Aidid as portrayed in the motion picture Black Hawk Down.

When the smoke cleared 18 U.S. soldiers were dead and another 84 were wounded in that battle, with hundreds of Somali fighters killed or wounded. Following the "Black Hawk Down" battle, then-President Bill Clinton pulled U.S. troops out of Somalia.
he Al Shabaab leader noted during Osama bin Laden's memorial service that bin Laden's al Qaeda played a major role in the 1993 U.S. special forces (Rangers, Delta Force) battle with Somali militia leader Mohamed Farah Aidid as portrayed in the motion picture Black Hawk Down.

An Al Shabaab leader this week claimed it was Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda that was instrumental in ousting Maj. General Mohammed Si’ad Barre, who headed Somalia's military regime.

Sheikh Mukhtar Rabow, a/k/a Abu Mansur, an Al Shabaab terrorist group official, made the claim while speaking at memorial in honor of the now deceased bin Laden on Wednesday in a town near the Somali capital of Mogadishu where Al Shabaab continues to rule.

“In [the early] 1990s, the martyred al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had sent a number of his fighters to Somalia to train some of Somali guerrillas in order to help depose Somali military regime,” Abu Mansur said, according to an unclassified intelligence report.

Abu Mansur claims that Osama also played a key role in financing the Somali Islamic forces and gave them material support such as providing them with firearms and rocket-propelled grenades and launchers.



Some intelligence experts believe it was the U.S. retreat from Somalia that encouraged Osama bin Laden to continue his attacks against Americans and American interests.

"While the U.S. government all but ignores Somalia, it was in that north African country in 1993 that bin Laden came to the decision that the United States would back down if it suffered devastating attacks," said former military intelligence officer and police detective Mike Snopes.

He stated that Al Shabaab depends on the military and financial support of al Qaeda that both terrorist organizations are united.

Abu Mansur boasted that the killing of the al Qaeda leader in Pakistan will not undermine Al Shabaab's efforts and battles to topple the United Nations-backed government of Somalia, which is internationally recognized. Besides Somali government forces, African Union peacekeepers are posted in the war-torn country.

In 1998, when U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam were bombed with hundreds of people dead, bin Laden was blamed as the mastermind of those almost simultaneous terrorist attacks.

The Al Shabaab leader noted during Osama bin Laden's memorial service that bin Laden's al Qaeda played a major role in the 1993 U.S. special forces (Rangers, Delta Force) battle with Somali militia leader Mohamed Farah Aidid as portrayed in the motion picture Black Hawk Down.

hen the smoke cleared 18 U.S. soldiers were dead and another 84 were wounded in that battle, with hundreds of Somali fighters killed or wounded. Following the "Black Hawk Down" battle, then-President Bill Clinton pulled U.S. troops out of Somalia.

Some intelligence experts believe it was the U.S. retreat from Somalia that encouraged Osama bin Laden to continue his attacks against Americans and American interests.

"While the U.S. government all but ignores Somalia, it was in that north African country in 1993 that bin Laden came to the decision that the United States would back down if it suffered devastating attacks," said former military intelligence officer and police detective Mike Snope

by Jim Kouri
The Rest @ Law Enforcement Examiner

Life Under Al Shabaab in Somalia

Picture this

• All functioning government outside of your local home town leaders disappears.
• A local kid, who has been off to college in Saudi Arabia or Egypt comes back and says that he will set up local law according to Sharia (Islamic Law) an elder from another town is appointed "judge"







• He says that He will need a local security force of police/military to maintain order.


(Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys and Mukhtaar Abu Mansur Robow,


• Your city is in severe draught, and your local-son-leader demands that every one bringing food or any aid of any kind must pay a $5000 per year registration fee, and 20% of all the food the aid agency brings in goes to Him - (in reality he keeps 50%)
  
  
  
  
• He brings in military "consultants" from outside to train up his new security force. These are foreigners trained by al Qaeda.







• In exchange for training the security, the al Qaeda consultants set up training camps for other foreign fighters in your town.







• The town leaders are told that they must pay a tax, and that they must offer up their daughters as wives for the foreign fighters that have come to your town.





• Every so often, the security force gathers up all its fighters and goes into the capital, where many are killed or captured. Each time they come back to your town.
• Sharia law is strictly enforced, like the cutting off hands, and the stoning of young women who report rapes by Mujahdin.
• Soon, every male of 13 years or older gets "drafted" in the the local militia, and there is no one to plant the crops, and the drought gets worse.
  
  (child soldier chewing the Narcotic plant Khat)
  

Some of you kids are sent of to be suicide bombers in other towns

This same thing is happening in every cluster of small towns in your part of the country. Your Young children are starving, your older children are serving as mujaheddin or "wifes" of Mujaheddin.

You just try to hold your family together. More and more foreign fighters come, and less and less food arrives.

• If you find you are a Sufi Muslim, that your faith has been declared heretical. Taliban like laws keep women oppressed.
• Your local police leader ( al Shabaab) sends some of your kids out to surrounding areas and countries to commit bombings. These are aimed at spread this form of government, the one you currently enjoy.

There is no way out unless some outside force comes in and does it for you.

This is life under Al Shabaab

-Editor

-Shimron

Zubeyr (Godani) being Exposed to Capture by Robow and Aweys?

It may be, that as part an al Shabaab "reorganization" being conducted by Sheikh Hassan Dahir and Mukhtaar Abu Mansur Robow, that Sheikh Mohamed in Juba and Mukhtar Abdirahman Abuu Zubeyr are being deliberately exposed to capture or death by the release of their whereabouts to the press.

This would explain why there has been certain releases of information about Sheikh Mohamed in Juba being in a Kenyan Jail, and Mukhtar Abdirahman Abuu Zubeyr (Abdi Godane)'s recent trips to visit his family in UAE after recent discussions about the merging of al Shabaab with other Islamist Groups....


-Shimron Issachar

*********************************
Mogadishu (Sunatimes) Al-shabab militias in Kismayo have for the first time said that one of their leaders named as Sheikh Mohamed in the Juba region has been in a Kenyan jail for the last six months.

Malim Adan Mohamed Abdullahi blamed some of Al-shabab leaders in Kismayo for not providing money that was needed to secure the release of the arrested senior militia man of the group.

Malim Adan claimed that Kenyan authorities asked for $1000 to release their member but A-shabab’s treasury officer and head of the militia in Kismayo Hasan Yakub Ali refused to provide the funds.

However, Malim could not explain where and how Sheikh Mohamed was arrested by Kenyan authorities.

Another member of the insurgent group sneaked out of a Kenyan prison early this year after allegedly bribing the Kenyan police when he was arrested at the border between Kenya and Uganda.




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Somalia:Alqaeda’s Alshabab leader seen in United Arab Emirates

Dubai (Sunatimes) Some very reliable sources report that the leader of Alshabab, an insurgent groups allied to Alqaeda, Ahmed Aw Mohamud Godane, aka Sheikh Mukhtar Abdurahman Abu Zubeyr, had visited Sharjah, UAE, at least two times so far this ending year.

The reclusive leader made unreported trips to United Arab Emirate to visit his wife and children are had been living in UAE since 2008.

The report says that

• Abu Zubeyr traveled to UAE in March 3, 2010, through Kenya Khat flight and second time was crossed the border as a normal man.
• March 3, 2010“He took a flight which brought Khat, green stimulant leafs, to KM50 airport, an air strip controlled by Alshabab which locates 50kms in the south of Mogadishu"
• Some investigations we made confirmed that Abu Zubeyr crossed the Kenyan border in November 11, 2010 to make his trip to UAE and visited his wife the second times this year.
• Abu Zubeyr was confirmed having a Kenyan passport with unidentified name, and he also has a resident permit from UAE which some Somali businessmen facilitated for him to make sure that he can visit his family when needed.
• A source close to Alshabab, which is in UAE told us that Abu Zubeyr visited his wive Muna Sheikh Abdirahman (Barawe) who lives with his in Sharjah. And he spent six days with them according to the source which claimed anonymity because of security reasons.

This wife, Muna, who is descent from Shiiqaal-Hawiye clan but her mother is Issa-Musse of Isaq clan got the resident permit from one of the Amirs of UAE who had relationship with her father who was working for the Amir long time, according to the source.

She moved from Hargeysa in October 2008 when Alshabab launched the deadly suicide targeted to the Somaliland presidential palace, the Ethiopian business council in Hargeysa and the UNDP head quarters.

A maid who used to work for the family of Abu Zubeyr in UAE confirmed that She saw Abu Zubeyr in the house but didn’t know that he was the unpopular leader of Alshabab.
“I saw him, I didn’t think that he was Abu Zubeyr, but I was told two months later that the man who was in the house was Abu Zubeyr, but I couldn’t talk about that” she said. “I couldn’t talk his information to anyone because I was in UAE without resident permit, I didn’t want to be in trouble” she added.

A Somali businessman in UAE who is neighbor to Abu Zubeyr’s family in Sharjah told Sunatimes that he saw Abu Zubeyr and formally knew him because he used to teach him religion in Hargeysa early times.

“I saw him, he was entering the house, but I didn’t know if the house was his own, I was surprised why such this man who is in the international wanted lists to move freely in such place” said the man whose surname is Hamza.

“In 1999 I was one of his students, he was teaching us the book of the prayers, Safina, I have his photo with me, so I can make sure that in November 23, 2010, he was in his house in Sharjah” he added.

Investigative reporters from Waagacusub, a popular Somali portal website who have long been tracking down about Alshabaab leaders’ profile.

They have secretly received four pictures, one of them is Ahmed Abdi Godane, Alshabaab leaders’ picture To secure the authenticity of the picture, the reporters have discussed with a well-known Somali businessman about his knowledge about Godane by asking if he personally knew Godane.

He acknowledge that he know the militant leader well and selected Godane’s picture from our already-held pictures which confirms that Waagacusub has the personal photo of Ahmed Abdi Godane, Alshabaab’s reclusive leader.

• Abu Zubeyr was the secretary general of the union of Islamic courts regime (UIC) which rules much of southern Somalia in the second half of 2006, but he was hiding himself even as he was in that position.
• He was part of UIC delegation that went to Khartoum to participate the peace deal between the transitional government of that time led by then president Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed and the UIC regime led by the current president of TFG Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
• He was using a passport with the name Mukhtar Abdi rahman, the same name he is using as his war name now, and in the passport it says that he was born July 10, 1977.
  

By Dahir Alasow,
dahiralasow@yahoo.com

The Rest @ Sunna Times

The article that follows is a bit dated, (6 October, 2010) but of interest. It suggests that al Shabaab and affiliated groups are trying to reorganize, and that there is a finacial struggle. Aweys and Robow met recently. Keep in mind that Aweys, in many ways is the estranged father of the al shabaab movement, and Robow is an out of Favor Former al shabaab leader, who has recently challenged Godane's leadership.

add to this that
a recent TBDA visit suggests that Abdi Godane may have taken a trip to Dubai recently.

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http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0oG7nuigwZNzQkB76xXNyoA;_ylc=X1MDMjc2NjY3OQRfcgMyBGFvAzEEZnIDeWZwLXQtODkyBGhvc3RwdmlkA1FXenpVVW9HN3Y0a1JuVm9UT1llX3cuRXhNbVhRMDBHZzZJQUFiUVQEbl9ncHMDMARuX3ZwcwMwBG9yaWdpbgNzcnAEcXVlcnkDZ29kYW5lIHZpc2l0IHRvIGR1YmFpBHNhbwMxBHZ0ZXN0aWQDREZENQ--?p=godane visit to ...

Afast (africa) Network Second Net
196.201.151.68
13th December 2010 20:37:33

yahoo search phrase

"godane visit to dubai"
using internet Explorer 8 and Windows 7 (newer computer)


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Somalia


Somalia: Secrets meeting between Aweys, Abu-Mansor over new insurgent group

6 Oct 6, 2010 - 1:44:30 PM

Somali insurgent leaders Sheikh Mukhtar Robow and Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys met in Mogadishu for secret talks, according to reports that Garowe Online received.

The two opposition leaders, Former Al-Shabaab’s top ranking official Mukhtar Robow also known Abu-Mansor and Hizbul Islam’s Hassan Dahir Aweys discussed about how to assemble new insurgent group.Abu-Mansor quit Al-Shabaab over dispute between him and his group official, now urging to establish new radicals group with his counterpart. “There is a new group that called Al-islamiyah which comes from broken branch of Al-shabaab and Hizbul Islam, the group will take over southern Somalia where Al-shabaab controls,” one of senior Hizbul Islam told Garowe Online who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of matter.According to Hizbul Islam top official, no comment about who will be the leader of the new group but they are ready to build it.However, Abu-mansor blast what he called ‘poor leadership’ in Al-shabaab, accused the group’s Leader Ahmed Godane.“Disagreement brought out when Godane and Abu-mansor failed to agree on Financials issues, Godane wanted to give head of financial department to one of his clan,” a high-rank of Al-shabaab told the reporters.Abu-Mansor claimed that he will withdraw his soldier from Somali capital Mogadishu.Al-Shabaab strongly opposes the policies of the government in Somalia. It is accused of having links with terrorist groups.

Somalia has had no effective central government for 19 years and although the administration of President Ahmed has the backing of the United Nations and AU, he faces a stubborn insurgency from the insurgent groups.

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

***************



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.
Tags

The Rest @ Demotix

Robow and Godane Divided

Opinion by Adan Diini appears propose the idea of a Coup attemp underway by Robow, trying to take over al Shabaab, or creae a breakaway group.....

-Shimron Issachar
**************


By : Adan Diini

Different sources have confirmed that the most powerful rebel Islamist movement in Somalia (alshabaab) are in the brink of splitting into two rival groups, after sharp dispute broke out between two of their senior leaders who apparently had disputes over power sharing arrangements and the absence of clear Political Strategy within the movement, also disputes concerning allegations of cronyism and misuse of funds have been subsequently reported to be one of the crucial elements of this developing dispute.

According to government security sources, the dispute between the two leaders broke out after mysterious disappearance of senior Al’shabaab military leader believed to be foreigner; sources also suggested that he was killed at the hands of Amniyaat elements of Al’shabaab who took their orders directly from Godane.

According to valuable information conveyed by sources close to the islamists, the recent difference between Sheikh Mukhtar Abu Zubair (.a.k.a Ahmed Godane) and his deputy Sheikh Muktar Roobw Abu Mansur have reached breaking point, which could cause severe implications in cities controlled by the movement such as Kismayo and Baldwine and more importantly the capital Mogadishu.a according to reports Hiiraan (central Somalia) and Lower Juba (South) doubts and tensions are rising among al-shabaab leaders and fighters.

• Gunmen loyal to Shiekh Roobow are reportedly begun to withdraw secretly heading for the areas inhabited by Shiekh Robow’s clan (Rahanwein a.k.a Digil and Mirifle) in Bay & Bakool regions.
• This Step leaves Godne fighters in a dangerous critical condition due to the fact that they haven’t any remaining strongholds other than the Hawiye-clan dominated areas in south and central Somalia and Mogadishu it self.
• The lack of unity among Al'shabaab elements led to the recent Al'shabaaab's remarkable turn-back which can be obviously seen during the ongoing confrontations against the TFG and AMISOM troops in Mogadishu.
• Sources within the ismalists have confirmed that it appears that Al'shabaab fighters are suffering from disorder and uncertainty in thier ranks, thus, they are on defensive position contrary to their known habit in the fighting.

The leaders of Al'shabaab Differed several times since the establishment of the group in late 2007, Close-souces within the islamists are saying that the current dispute revolves around power and alleged systematic negligence by Godane of wounded Ah'shabaab fighters who said to be numbered in hundreds in Mogadishu alone.

This came as a final blow to the already tense relations between them. This controversy threatens to start the end of Al'shabaab Al Mujahedeen Movement as a single united movement.

It is difficult though to end the current dispute without the two leaders weakening each other, which in turn would weaken the unity inside this violent radical movement which refuses to engage in any negotiations with the fragile Somali government.

Ismamists sources whom I spoke with also said that the difference between the two men intensified when unification agreement between the two biggest insurgency groups was canceled unilaterally by Godane and his advisors(mostly forign fighters).

• This unification and standardization agreement was primarily concluded by the leaders of Hizbul-Islaam with Shiekh Roobow representing Al'shabaab's interests in this agreement.
• Under the Canceled agreement new Islamic Party with new name will emerge and Al'shabaab would take the newly formed party presidency position among other important military and financial positions.
• After the unilateral cancellation of the agreement, Sheikh Robow was angered and he was reported once saying that Godane is intended to undermine his influence and popularity among Al'shabaab fighters.

Moreover, new cracks appeared between the two men after Al'shabaab's failure to finish the weak TFG government during the holy month of Ramadan’s fighting (named by al'shabaab leader "The end of the aggressors"), Al'shabaab sent hundreds of fighters to the capital to overthrow the Somali government and force the African Union forces to leave, However, they failed miserably in that.

Powerful sources also confirm that most of the injured or died fighters in this offensive were of Digil & Mirifle Clan (a.k.a Rahanwein), which represents more than 60-70 percent of Al'shabaab's overall combat power, although they do not receive adequate attention.

The Clan's elders asked Sheikh Roobow to explain why their tribes men are in the front lines while most of the senior positions are dominated by people from north of Somalia(Somaliland), and why proper medial treatment is not given to their tribes men when they sustain injuries.

Observers had expected for some time that disagreement between the two men is immanent because of the sharp differences in their personalties, Shiekh Roobow is reportedly liked and admired by most of Al'shabaab fighters, While in contraray Godane is barely known by his fighters as he rarely unveils his face.

And he was never seen engaged in fighting activities along side his fighters. Shiekh Roobow however is well known for his violent adventures in dangerous front lines;

• also he publically enjoys finishing-off wounded government soldiers using small sharp knife he always carries around his whist,
• recently he has sustained minor injuries while engaged in bloody fighting against TFG and AMISOM.

Also in a relevant development, Hizbul-Islaam commander in Mogadishu said that he noticed rising numbers of Al'shabaab fighters trying to leave al'shabaab and asking to join Hizbul-Islaam but their request was rejected by Hizbul-Islaam leaders due to the sophisticated relation ship between the two insurgency groups,

also he suggested that Shiekh roobow's next move could be establishing new alliance with Hawiye-clan to create new Islamist movement which will be totally independent from Al'shabaab influence, also alternatively its very likely that if this disputes are not promptly contained it could lead to golden opportunity for Hizbul Islaam leaders who can use this opportunity to widen their organization at A’shabaab expense.

There are already rapidly spreading rumers in Mogadishu that Sheikh Robow and Shiekh Aweis of Hizbul’islaam have already met and discussed possible unity between their factions to form a large dominant Islamist movement in Somalia.

• It is believed though that the corner stone of this new strategy will be Al’shabaab members who hail from the influential Hawiye Clan.
• If they accept to be fully allied with Shiekh Robow and withdraw their recognition for Godane as the unquestionable leader of al'shabaab, this will accelerate the end of political and military influence of Godane among Al'shabaab fighters.

Shiekh Mukhtar Robow Abu Mansoor is one of the top leaders of Al’shabaab, who had received military training in Al-Qaida and Taliban Camps in the early nineties. he is wanted by the C.I.A and the Ethiopian security for allegedly being involved in various terrorism activities.

He was dismissed from his post as Al’shabaab’s spokes man and was appointed as Sheikh Ahmed Godane’s Deputy although he remained practically inactive. By : Adan Diini adan.diini@gmail.com

Al Sabaab is Al Qaeda - Old but Reaffirmed News

This is not new news, but when one understands how Al Qaeda works, especially in Africa. Understand this:

There is no quibbling about the FACT that al Qaeda conducted the World Cup suicide bombings.

Al Shabaab IS al Qaeda in East Africa. Though al Shabaab leadership has a wide latitude of independant action, they are as much al Qaeda as any group outside Pakistan. Al Shabaab counts on al qaeda endorsment to get funding and the foreign fighter recruits which now make up the majority of its force.

Al Shabaab must replace Somali fighters because Somalia al Shabaab fighters s are largely fighting for Somalia, for "freedom" from the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

Al Shabaab is fighting to lead an Islamist revolution, starting in Somalia and spreading West until "all Africa becomes part of the next caliphate." There are Islamists not publicly carrying out Jihad.

Al Qaeda resources are directing foreign fighter recruits toward Somalia.

- Shimron Issachar

*********
Al Qaeda's senior leadership has advised Shabaab, its affiliate in Somalia, to downplay links between the two terror groups and suggested that future attacks be directed at US interests in East Africa.

"Al Qaeda's top leadership has instructed Shabaab to maintain a low profile on al Qaeda links," a senior US intelligence official who closely follows al Qaeda and Shabaab in East Africa told The Long War Journal. The official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject, said the information was passed between the top leadership of both groups.


"Al Qaeda has accepted Shabaab into the fold and, and any additional statements would only serve to draw international scrutiny," the intelligence official said. "Al Qaeda is applying lessons learned from Iraq, that an overexposure of the links between al Qaeda central leadership and its affiliates can cause some unwanted attention."


Shabaab's double suicide attack in Uganda on July 11 was well received by al Qaeda's top
leadership, who want Shabaab to continue to hitting US interests in Africa.

"Al Qaeda is pleased with the double suicide attack in Uganda, but suggested Shabaab reserve future strikes at US interests in the region," the official said.


The July 11 double suicide attack in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, killed 74 civilians as they
watched the World Cup's final soccer match. The mastermind of the Kampala attacks, Isah Ahmed Luyima, said he executed the bombings with the intent of maximizing US deaths.

"I targeted places where many Americans go," Luyima said in a press conference hosted by Ugandan police on Aug. 12. "I was made to believe that Americans were responsible for the suffering of Muslims all over the world."

The Shabaab cell that carried out the Uganda attack called itself the Saleh Ali Nabhan Brigade.
Saleh Ali Slaeh Nabhan was a top al Qaeda and Shabaab leader who has been indicted by the US for his involvement in the 1998 bombings at the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Nabhan was indicted with several top al Qaeda leaders, including Osama bin Laden and Ayman al Zawahiri. Nabhan served as Shabaab's top military commander before US special operations forces killed him in a raid in southern Somalia in September 2009.


Evidence of Shabaab's attempts to minimize its regional reach could recently be seen in Somalia's north after Shabaab commander Mohammed Said Atom and Shabaab both downplayed any ties after security forces attacked terror training camps operated by Atom in the Galgala Mountains in late July.

Shabaab's links to al Qaeda

Al Qaeda has praised Shabaab and its predecessor, the Islamic Courts Union, for years prior to accepting Shabaab into the fold. For years al Qaeda has helped produced propaganda for the Islamic Courts and Shabaab and has addressed the group in its own propaganda tapes. Osama bin Laden endorsed the Islamic Courts during a speech back in 2006.

"We will continue, God willing, to fight you and your allies everywhere, in Iraq and Afghanistan and in Somalia and Sudan until we waste all your money and kill your men and you will return to your country in defeat as we defeated you before in Somalia," bin Laden said. Al Qaeda leaders Ayman al Zawahiri and Abu Yahya al Libi have also directly addressed Shabaab and voiced their support for the terror group's activities.

During the summer of 2008, Shabaab sought to formally join al Qaeda. By the end of that year, al Qaeda had accepted Shabaab as its official affiliate in East Africa.

Shabaab's former spokesman and top military commander, Sheikh Mukhtar Robow, admitted that many Shabaab leaders have trained with and take instruction from al Qaeda. "Most of our leaders were trained in Al Qaeda camps," Robow told The Los Angeles Times in August 2008. "We get our tactics and guidelines from them," he continued. "Many have spent time with Osama bin Laden." Other Shabaab leaders have also admitted to links with al Qaeda.

"We will take our orders from Sheikh Osama bin Laden because we are his students," Robow continued. "Al Qaeda is the mother of the holy war in Somalia."

In September of 2008, Shabaab formally reached out to al Qaeda's senior leadership in an effort to better integrate with the network and its strategic nodes across Africa and the Middle East. The effort came in the form of a 24-minute video that featured Nabhan.

In the tape, Nabhan declared an oath of bayat (loyalty) on behalf of Shabaab to bin Laden and al Qaeda and encouraged fighters to train in Shabaab-run camps and participate in the fight against the transitional federal government, Ethiopian forces, and African Union peacekeepers.

The response to Shabaab's declaration came two months later, on Nov. 19, 2008, when al Qaeda operations chief Ayman al-Zawahiri acknowledged the group in a propaganda video by calling them "my brothers, the lions of Islam in Somalia."


"[R]ejoice in victory and conquest," Zawahiri said in an official transcript acquired by The Long War Journal, "and hold tightly to the truth for which you have given your lives, and don't put down your weapons before the Mujahid state of Islam and Tawheed [oneness with god] has been set up in Somalia."

Most of Shabaab's top leaders are foreign al Qaeda operatives. Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, who also was indicted for his involvement in the 1998 attacks in Kenya and Tanzania, served as Shabaab's top intelligence official before replacing Nabhan as Shabaab's top military leader. Al Qaeda also appointed Fazul as its operations chief for East Africa.

Shaykh Muhammad Abu Fa'id, a Saudi citizen, serves as a top financier and a "manager" for Shabaab. Abu Musa Mombasa, a Pakistani citizen, serves as Shabaab's chief of security and training. Mahmud Mujajir, a Sudanese citizen, is Shabaab's chief of recruitment for suicide bombers. Abu Mansour al Amriki, a US citizen, serves as a military commander, recruiter, financier, and propagandist.

The Rest @ Longwar Journal with a nod to Thoughts of a Technocrat

Somalia Civil War Update

The following is an summary of Ted Dagne's own testimony to The US House of Representatives in Congress, published on June 26, 2009 by all Africa , concerning prospects for Somali peace.

I support most of his conlcusions, especially his statement that only a Somali -Muslim led solution will be supported by the people.

I believe the Pirate Issue should be kept separte from the civil war issue, except for the Shabaab units that are getting paid for training the Pirates.

I believe Aweys is trying to become the leader of all the opposition. If he succeeds and comes into power in the TFG, or wins out by force of war, He will use Sudan as a model and launch a jihad into Ethiopia, Kenya and continue to assassinate politacl moderates. He will continue to play games, practicing Taqiyaa borrowed from the Shiia, about his inttentions, including his connections with al Qaeda.

One more Question... where is Zubayr, (Godane)? anyone seen him?

-Shimron Issachar

The following is the prepared testimony of Ted Dagne of Congressional Research Service before the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health on June 25, 2009 in Washington, DC. The hearing was entitled, "Somalia: Prospects for a Lasting Peace and Unified Response to Extremism and Terrorism."

Chairman Payne, Ranking Member Smith, and members of the sub-committee, let me first express my appreciation for the opportunity to testify before your sub-committee. I am sure some of you have seen the images on TV, read about it in the newspapers, and some of you have witnessed the untold suffering of many Somalis over the years. I have stopped counting how many innocent civilians have been killed, maimed, or how many more people displaced from their homes because of fighting. Unfortunately and sadly, many more people will die in the coming weeks and months. A Somali friend recently told me that he has given up dreaming about a better future for his family.

In April, Chairman Payne and I traveled to Mogadishu to obtain a firsthand account of conditions in Mogadishu. Some questioned the delegation’s decision to go to Mogadishu, while others praised it. An important thing to remember is the fact that children and the most vulnerable live in these conditions everyday. The day we arrived in Mogadishu five innocent civilians were killed and over a dozen injured.

Almost three years ago this week in a testimony before this sub-committee, I read a short Somali proverb in an attempt to describe conditions on the ground. The proverb: “Sorrow is like rice in the store; if a basketful is removed everyday, it will come to an end at last.” I stated then that Somalia’s tragedy would come to an end, we just don’t know how soon. Three years later, I still cannot tell you with certainty what the future hold for the millions of Somalis.

One thing is clear: the determination and commitment I saw 15 years ago at the height of the civil war by Somali women, human rights advocates, and Somali nationalists, is still very much alive. The leadership of the current government is not staying at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. They are in Mogadishu facing the challenges and risks everyday with their people. Some left family members, friends, and safe environment here in the U.S. so that they can help their people and help secure a lasting peace in Somalia.

Hundreds of thousands of Somalis have died due to factional fighting, famine, or disease over the past decade. I have witnessed the untold suffering of the people of Somalia over the past decade in the refugee camps in Kenya and in Somalia. A generation of Somalis is growing up surrounded by violence, poverty, and face a very bleak future. Many have been internally displaced or forced to flee their country. In the refugee camps in Kenya, you find Somali teenagers, some of them born there, who have never been able to see their country or the opportunity to live a normal life.

Indeed the most affected by the violence and chaos in Somalia are women and children. Many Somali girls have been raped and violated by the so-called militia. And even a rape victim is stoned to death for reporting what happened to her. If the extremists waging the war against the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) succeed, we are likely to see more of these acts by Al-Shibaab.

Recent Developments

In early May, Somali extremist groups backed by foreign fighters launched a major offensive against the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia and the African Union peacekeeping forces (AMISOM).

• Over the past six weeks, more than 300 people have been killed and many more wounded. The primary objective of this offensive is to oust the TFG from power and force AMISOM to leave Somalia.
• Several Al-Shibaab factions, Hizbul al-Islam, and foreign fighters have been engaged in a series of battles against government forces.
• Al-Shibaab has also carried out a number of assassinations, including the police Chief and the Minister of Interior, who were killed last week, in an attempt to create a leadership crisis.
• More than 400 foreign fighters reportedly from Afghanistan, Yemen, Pakistan, the United States, Canada, Britain, Kenya, and several other countries have been engaged in the fighting in support of the Al-Shibaab forces.
• More than 290 fighters reportedly entered Mogadishu in early May, while an estimated 50 fighters were in Mogadishu for much longer.
• Some of these fighters have been killed in battles in Mogadishu.
• Some of the fighters characterized as foreign fighters are actually Somalis who look like foreigners.

The insurgents receive support from the outside and from some Somali businessmen, who are unhappy with the TFG leadership.

• In May 2009, the spokesman of Al-Shibaab admitted that foreign fighters have joined the fighting.
• In early June 2009, Al-Shibaab and Hizbul Islam made important gains in Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia, in large part due to defections to the insurgency and lack of resources.
• The TFG forces regrouped, and by mid-June managed to regain some lost grounds in Mogadishu. But the TFG remains vulnerable and its ability to defeat the insurgents depends on resources, including Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), mobility, and a well organized and sustainable military operations.
  

The presence of the African Union force has helped prevent the takeover of Mogadishu by the insurgents. But the African Union force does not have a Chapter 7 mandate, requiring the force to be on the defensive rather than taking offensive measures against the insurgents.

The African Union force has used its long range artilleries against the insurgents. These measures have weakened and forced the insurgents to remain outside the range of these weapons. But the most serious challenge facing the TFG forces and those of the AU is that the insurgents are highly decentralized and move in small units, and operate independently of one another.

The Leadership of Al-Shibaab and other Factions

Who are the leaders of the insurgents? The leaders of Al-Shibaab are not well known, with the exception of a few. Some of the key commanders and leaders of Al-Shibaab come from Somaliland.

• Ahmed Abdi Godane, who is on the U.S. terrorism list and who trained and fought in Afghanistan, is a key commander from Somaliland.
• Mukhtar Robow, who is also on the U.S. terrorism list, is considered one of the key leaders of the Shibaab and a former spokesman, although in recent weeks he has been marginalized and has been at odd with the other commanders, especially Godane.
• Another key leader is Ibrahim Haji Jama, who is on the U.S. terrorism list, reportedly trained and fought in Afghanistan.
• Hassan al-Turki, a member of the Ogaden clan from Ethiopia, has openly called for Jihad, and works closely with foreign fighters.
• Indha Adde is another commander, who fought against the Ethiopian occupation and worked closely with Sheik Hassan Aweys, a former leader of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS-Asmara).

In February 2008, then Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice designated Al-Shibaab as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group.

The TFG was able to win over some Al-Shibaab fighters to join the government side. However, several hundred fighters who recently joined government forces were sent by the extremist groups to infiltrate the government security force.

In May 2009, at the height of the recent fighting in Mogadishu, most of these fighters went back to rejoin the militia groups they left earlier, Sheik Sharif Hassan Aweys.

In late April, Sheik Sharif Hassan Aweys, who is on the U.S. terrorism list, returned to Mogadishu from Eritrea. Sheik Aweys had remained in Eritrea and formed his own faction after the top leadership of the ARS signed an agreement in Djibouti with other Somali parties, which led to the formation of the current government.

ARS-Asmara, under the leadership of Aweys, did not garner significant support, although Aweys intensified his support for extremist groups inside Somalia. ARS-Asmara leaders were not in full agreement with Aweys and his support for the extremist groups inside Somalia.

They provided written documentation to this effect to a visitor in April 2009. These leaders stated that they formed their own organization and would disassociate themselves from Aweys. These leaders left Eritrea in May.

In late April I met with Sheik Aweys in Eritrea. He seemed confused at times and several times contradicted himself.

• When asked if he was prepared to state publicly his support for a peaceful participation in the current political process, Aweys responded positively.
• However, when he was asked whether he would renounce terrorism and call for an end to violence against civilians, Aweys stated that since he considers the American interpretation of terrorism as anti-Islam, he “cannot condemn terrorism.” Doing so, he asserted, is “denouncing his own religion.”
• When asked if he wished to be removed from the terrorism list, Aweys stated that he will not seek to be removed because that would be going against his religion.
• When confronted about his role in support of terrorism and violence in Somalia, he characterized these acts as a struggle against the enemies of Somalia.

Upon his return to Mogadishu in late April 2009, Sheik Aweys discovered that the clan elders and militia who had supported him in the past now wanted him to work with the government and end the violence. The militia group he helped create, Hizbul al-Islam, also was split and some have joined Al-Shibaab.

Some of the top leaders of the Al-Shabaab also want him to declare an alliance with Osama Bin Laden. Aweys is unlikely to emerge as the leader of the insurgency and he seems to be losing support even within his own inner circle.

Human Rights and Humanitarian Conditions

In 2008, humanitarian and human rights conditions became worse than in previous years.

The recent fighting in Mogadishu has added more challenges to already poor conditions on the ground. An estimated 1.1 million people have been displaced and more than 475,000 have fled to neighboring countries in the past two years.

Human rights groups and Somali observers estimate more than 22,000 people have been killed over the past two years. Civilians, humanitarian workers, journalists, and human rights advocates have been the primary targets of the insurgents, TFG, and Ethiopian security forces. According to Amnesty International, “rape, killings and looting have become widespread. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed.” A number of Somali journalists covering the crisis in Somalia have been assassinated by insurgents and security forces over the past eighteen months.

Dozens of humanitarian and human rights advocates have been killed, injured, or imprisoned. Because of these targeted attacks, many human rights advocates and journalists have fled Somalia to neighboring countries for safety.

Somalis working for international NGOs and foreign media have also been attacked by insurgents and TFG/Ethiopian security forces.

According to the May 2009 Complex Emergency report by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an estimated 3.2 million people are in need of emergency assistance. In the first two weeks of May 2009, an estimated 27,500 people have been displaced due to the recent fighting in Mogadishu.

The United States has provided an estimated $177.6 million in humanitarian and peacekeeping assistance to Somalia in FY2009.

In FY2008, the United States provided $318 million in assistance to Somalia. The Obama Administration has requested $103 million for FY 2010.

The United States has also provided material support in support of TFG forces.

Somali Piracy in the Horn of Africa

I will now speak briefly to the issue of piracy in the Horn of Africa.

Somali pirates have intensified their attacks in the Gulf of Aden, carrying out attacks on over 111 commercial ships, and successfully hijacked an estimated 40 ships in 2008.

According to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), piracy in the first quarter of 2009 has surpassed that of 2008. According to IMB, “in 2008, there were 111 incidents including 42 vessels hijacked. So far in 2009, there have been 29 successful hijackings from 114 attempted attacks.” In January-February 2009, Somali pirates released several ships, including a Japanese-owned ship, MV Chemstar, and the MV Faina.

• The pirates have reportedly earned more than $120 million in ransom payments, and in return have released a number of ships and crew members.

On December 16, 2008, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution authorizing the use of “all necessary measures” by foreign military forces to stop piracy in Somalia.

• The resolution authorizes military operations inside Somalia and in its airspace for one year, with the consent of the TFG.

The United States, Russia, India, and several other countries have deployed warships to tackle piracy in the Horn of Africa region. In February 2009, the U.S. Navy arrested 16 suspected Somali pirates.

In December 2008, the Indian Navy reportedly arrested 23 Somali and Yemeni pirates. Moreover, the Russian Navy also arrested a number of suspected Somali pirates. In January 2009, the United States and Britain signed legal agreements with the Government of Kenya to extradite suspected pirates to be prosecuted in Kenya. Some insurgent leaders have warned the pirates to end the piracy and to release crew members and ships currently controlled by the pirates.

Who Are the Pirates?

The number of Somali pirates is unknown. While there are more pirates now than previous years, the pirates do not seem to have a unified organization with clear command structure. Many of these pirates are reportedly fishermen and former militia members of the Somali warlords. The pirates primarily come from Puntland region of Somalia and are members of different clans.

Some press reports have suggested that the pirates are being controlled and directed by the Islamic insurgents in south-central Somalia. I am not aware of any evidence, however, to support this assertion.

What do Somalis say about the piracy problem? Some Somalis view the piracy crisis as a foreign problem with little impact on their daily life. Some argue that the piracy problem will continue as long as the ship-owners are willing to pay the pirates ransom.

In the face of difficult economic conditions and growing humanitarian crisis, many Somalis resent the fact that the piracy problem has received a great deal of international attention. Some Somali community leaders contend that some Somalis get involved in criminal activities in order to survive, while many others have made these kinds of criminal activities a lifetime profession. Many Somalis contend that in the absence of a better alternative, they have come to accept life with all the difficulties they face daily.

Some Somalis argue that the fishermen have become pirates because their way of life was destroyed by illegal fishing and toxic waste dumping that has been ignored by foreign governments.

In 2005, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) released a report documenting the damages resulting from toxic waste dumping on Somalia’s shores. According to a UNEP spokesman, “there’s uranium radioactive waste, there’s lead, there’s heavy metals like cadmium and mercury, there’s industrial waste, and there’s hospital wastes, chemical wastes, you name it.”

According to the report, the primary reason for toxic dumping in Somalia is cost. The report states that it costs $2.50 per ton to dump toxic waste in Africa compared to $250 per ton to dump waste in Europe.

Policy Options in Dealing with Political and Security Problems

The current government in Mogadishu is generally seen as the last defense against the extremist and terrorist groups currently waging war in south-central Somalia. Effective policy options available to deal with these threats are limited.

The international community may consider engagement with the Islamic insurgents and clan elders to deal with the political and security problems facing Somalia. Regional and U.S. officials are convinced that it is pivotal to strengthen the moderate elements of the Islamic movements. Most observers believe that the Al-Shabaab can only be contained by another Islamic movement supported by clan elders.

• Some Al-Shabaab leaders are determined to continue their military campaign and are not inclined to participate in negotiations. Targeted measures, including sanctions and other measures against the most extreme elements of Al-Shibaab, might pave the way for other moderate leaders to emerge.
• However, others believe that harsh or violent measures are likely to backfire in the short term and increase anti-western violence.

A more effective option for containing the extremists may be to look for a Somali-led solution. The TFG, Somaliland, Puntland, and other moderate Somali forces could possibly form a coalition to contain the advances of the most extreme elements of the Al-Shabaab politically and militarily.

Such a coalition is likely to get the support of the Somali population. A Somali-led initiative would take away one of the most powerful justifications used by the Al-Shabaab to wage war, the presence of foreign forces. Most observers agree, however, that a unified regional approach is pivotal, however.

In conclusion, there appear to be no easy solutions or options to bring a lasting peace in Somalia. Somalis continue to make great sacrifices to achieve this objective. There is a very telling Somali proverb: The best bed that a man can sleep on is peace. Thank You.

The Rest @ All Africa.com

U.S. Ships Weapons to GovtSomalia: U.S. Ships Small Arms, Munitions to Govt Somalia: U.S. Providing Govt With Arms, Ammunition Somalia: Background Briefing on U.S. Assistance to the Transitional Federal Government Eritrea: Govt Reacts to U.S. Arms Shipment to Somalia

Robow, out of Favor Threatens Death To Somali Cabinet Memeber

In the Garowe online Story below, Mukhtaar Abu Mansur Robow is called the "former" Shabaab spokesman. This suggests he has recently been fired, as was suggested earlier. If so, it is likely a falling out of favor for his practice of destroying Sufi Islamic tombs (He authorized a video to be taken of him destorying a grave).

-Shimron Issachar


BAIDOA, Somalia June 23 (Garowe Online) - The former spokesman for Al Shabaab hardliners waging war against Somalia's interim government has threatened to kill a Cabinet minister, Radio Garowe reports.

Sheikh Muktar Robow "Abu Mansur" addressed hundreds of spectators in the southwestern town of Baidoa on Tuesday.

He accused Somali Transportation Minister Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade of "betraying" an amnesty Al Shabaab gave him in January, when the Islamist guerrilla group captured Baidoa from fleeing government forces.

"We have issued an order to kill Habsade and others we forgave when we captured this town [Baidoa] earlier this year…they will not be forgiven [again]," Abu Mansur said.

Minister Habsade, a former warlord from Baidoa, recently said in the national capital Mogadishu that he is organizing a military offensive to retake control of Bay and Bakool regions.

"We will defeat Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam…I will lead the offensive in Bay and Bakool regions," Habsade told Mogadishu-based media.

The Rest @ Garowe Online

Terrorists Shangole ignores his death reports, Al-Shabab to face against Mansor, good news shabaab jihadist infighting
translation

Terrorists Shangole ignores his death reports, Al-Shabaab Terrorists to face against Terrorists Mukhtar Robow Ali alias Abu Mansur.Terrorists Fuad Mohamed Shangole, among the senior leaders of Al-Shabab Terrorists hardliners in Somalia has strongly denied the recent media reports saying that he was killed in armed confrontation with Ahlu-sunna Islamist group in central Somalia as false claim spread by his enemy.

• In an interview with Waagacusub Media on the satellite phone, Shangole said he is still alive [in] Mogadishu and verbally attacked the spokesman of Al-Shabab Terrorists Mokhtar Robow Abu-mansor for what he called his unwelcome unforgettable bad deeds.


• “I think that any person who is among the enemy of Allah should be killed,”Terrorists Shangole told Waagacusub Media, a Part of Habar Gidir own radio station shabelle


• [He added] that Al-Shabab leadership will take tough stand against Mansor.


• Shangole said the act in which Mansor released some government ministers held in Baidoa seizure in early this year was un-Islamic.


• Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade was among the former ministers released by Mansor because of clan men..

"Terrorists Mokhtar Robow made it clear about his objective and we know that he is now forming a regional administration dubbed as Bay and Bakol regional autonomy to sabotage the mujahideens,”

Shangole said.Fuad Shangole, whose father was sports veteran and well known in Mogadishu, said that he was Imam in a mosque in Sweden and left there in 2001 for his home country.

Replying about the allegation that he was a man of tribalism, Terrorists Shangole said that is baseless assertion saying that he was a man of good deeds.

Somali language "You can't listen ..Fuaad Shongole oo Waagacusub Dhageyso ama Download

I don't know what to make of it.

The Rest @ Terrori Free Somalia

Shabbab Command Network Diagram

Check this out, for a graphic network from Manyeyes


Sheikh Hasan Dahir Aweys
ARS ASMARA
1
ARS ASMARA
Sheikh Omar Iman Abubakar
2
ARS ASMARA
Yusuf Mohammed Siad "Inda'ade"
3
Sheikh Hasan Dahir Aweys
Sheikh Omar Iman Abubakar
4
Sheikh Hasan Dahir Aweys
Yusuf Mohammed Siad "Inda'ade"
5
Sheikh Hasan Dahir Aweys
AL SHABAAB
6
Sheikh Omar Iman Abubakar
HISBI ISLAM
7
Sheikh Mohamed Mukhtar Abdirahman "Abu Zubeyr"
AL SHABAAB
8
Sheikh Mohamed Mukhtar Abdirahman "Abu Zubeyr"
BAY BAKOOL COMMAND
9
Sheikh Mohamed Mukhtar Abdirahman "Abu Zubeyr"
SOUTH CENTRAL SOMALIA AND MOGADISHU COMMAND
10
Sheikh Mohamed Mukhtar Abdirahman "Abu Zubeyr"
JUBA COMMAND
11
Sheikh Mohamed Mukhtar Abdirahman "Abu Zubeyr"
PUNTLAND COMMAND
12
Sheikh Mohamed Mukhtar Abdirahman "Abu Zubeyr"
SOMALILAND COMMAND
13
BAY BAKOOL COMMAND
Mukhtar Robow Mansur
14
Mukhtar Robow Mansur
Ali Saleh Nabhan "Abu Yusuf"

Godane Hunting Robow to Arrest Him

Somalia: Alshabab To Arrest Its Spokesman
Mogadishu, 3 April 2009

Reports from Kismayo suggest that the Al shabaab leader, Mr. Ahmed Godane has officially ordered his militia to arrest the organization’s spokesman, Mukhtar Robow Abu Mansur after he is accused of disobeying the organization’s law and the Shari’ah in general.

• He is accused of inviting the NGOs to operate in Bay and Bakol regions of Somalia.
• Mr. Godane is said to be heading to Bay and Bakol regions in order to arrest Mr. Robow who originally hails from those regions.
• Sh. Robow warned against any attempt from Mr. Godane to arrest him.
  

Sh. Robow issued a call last week inviting the NGOs to work in the region and to help the poor people living there as the situation of those people is deteriorating. He is also accused of releasing government officials who have been arrested during the Al shabab’s seizure in Baidoa.

It seems Alshabab is breaking up into smaller groups and this would lead a religious war in Somalia where different armed religious groups are fighting against each other.

Al shabab is the most radical organization in Somalia who is said to be behind the suicide bombings in Hargeisa where at least 24 persons died and more than 30 were wounded.

The Rest @ Somaliland Press

The radical Islamic Movement of Al-Shabab has formed its first administration in Baidoa town the headquarters of Bay region in southern Somalia since it has taken control of the after the withdrawal of the Ethiopian troops some two months ago.

The Al-Shabab movement has also banned the selling of Khat a certain narcotic plant which majority of the Somalis munch and arrives from Meru a town in Kenya, and cars with opaque glasses apart from those ones of the officials of Al-Shabab.

“Today the 24th of March the Islamic Movement of Al-Shabab has formed an administration in the town of Baidoa the headqurters of Bay region, and the regional commissioner from today henceforth is Sheikh Abdi Hafid Omar Ibrahim” said the chairman of Al-Shabab movement in the regions of Bay and Bakool Sheikh Hassan Mohammed Ali Best known as (Abuu Ayman) in a press conference.

The former administration of Bay region is currently fugitive in the Somali, Ethiopian border town of El- Barde, and in the course of last week their was deadly battle between the forces loyal to Al-Shabab and that of the Somali government in the town of Rabdhure some 180km northwest of Baidoa town. In that battle the Al-Shabab movement has claimed victory and said that it has killed 16 of the Somali government soldiers while the Somali government officials called the victory null and void.

The Rest @ Somaliweyn Media Center “SMC”

Mohammed Omar Hussein +2521-5519235 shiinetown@hotmail.com

Robow and the Salafi Doctrine of the Somali Islamist

Robow believes they are chosen by god to go into the world and bring it to him.
Islamist Robow Explains that after Somlia they will go to the whole earth with Jihad and bring Sharia, whether they like it or not.

The video also shows him desecrating a a Sufi toumb.

Robow Gives Three Conditions for Shabaab to Stop Fighitng

Thursday in Baioda Mukhtar Robow says he has not met the
new Somali president and vows more war against the country's new government

Talking to the press on Thursday at the former parliament hall in Baidoa, he
said that he does not intend to meet the new Somali President Sheikh
Sharif Ahmed, as there is no difference between him and his predecessor
Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, a Xamar Radio correspondent reported from Mogadishu on Thursday.

Sharif, a former member of the United Islamic Courts, affiliated with al-Shabaab had told
reporters after spending three days in Mogadishu that he met with leaders of the insurgency,
including representatives from al-Shabaab and the Islamic Party, a new coalition. Yusuf Ahmed
had advised the incoming leader to confront al-Shabaab, which is listed as a terror organization
by the US government.

Robow has put forth three conditions for supporting the new government if:

• The president orders AMISOM and foreign troops to leave the country;
• Establish Islamic law;
• Give good posts to the government to al-Shabaab authorities.

If not, Mukhtar said, al-Shabaab has vowed to continue their attacks against the government and
foreign troops till they leave the country, our correspondent said.AMISOM, African Union peacekeeping contingent serving in Mogadishu, has a force of 3,500 soldiers.

The rest @Xmarradio

Abdullahi Yusuf Resigns, Ehtipian Soldiers Prepare to Leave Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia: A powerful insurgent group poised to take over Somalia said Wednesday it will fight until the country is ruled by Islamic law, even as Ethiopian troops who have been propping up the government packed up to leave.

The presence of the Ethiopian troops, whom many Somalis see as occupiers in their land, has been a rallying cry for the insurgents to gain recruits even as the militants' strict form of Islam terrified people into submission.

But on Wednesday, the most powerful insurgent group said the departure after two years will not be enough to stop them fighting the government.

"We will not stop fighting even if the Ethiopian troops withdraw because our aim is to implement Islamic law across Somalia," said Sheik Muktar Robow, leader of the most aggressive Islamic insurgency group, al-Shabab.

The Ethiopian troops were packing up to leave Wednesday amid fears their departure will allow the strengthening Islamic insurgency to take over. But it was unclear when the thousands of soldiers would actually depart. They are expected to leave in stages, not all at once.


Ethiopia originally said it would end its unpopular presence here by the end of December, but officials have since declined to give an exact date because of fears of a power vacuum.

Somali military officials and soldiers said the Ethiopians were awaiting word on when to go.
"They have stopped dealing with us, all they could tell us was that they were getting ready for a final departure from Somalia," Somali soldier Fuad Muhumed Afey said of the Ethiopian troops.

Witnesses said many soldiers were packing mattresses, personal belongings and loading trucks with military supplies.

Somalia's former president, Abdullahi Yusuf, who resigned this week, called in Ethiopia for help two years ago to rout Islamic militants who had taken over most of the country. Ethiopia's superior firepower worked — the Islamists were driven from power, however briefly — but an Iraq-style insurgency soon began.

Al-Shabab has taken control of vast amounts of new territory in recent months. Washington accuses al-Shabab of harboring the al-Qaida-linked terrorists who blew up the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.

Many of the insurgency's senior figures are Islamic radicals; some are on the U.S. State Department's list of wanted terrorists.

Yusuf's resignation could usher in more chaos as Islamic militants scramble and even fight among themselves for power. The government controls only pockets of Mogadishu, the capital, and Baidoa, the seat of Parliament.

The Rest @ The International Hearald Tribune
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