Al Shabaab's Executive Council and Their Clans

This was originally published 5 May 2001, and lays out key figures in al Shabaab leadership. Most names are well known, some are not, some are now dead.

- Shimron Issachar

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

MOGADISHU (Sunatimes) The executive council of Al-Shabaab militant group in southern Somalia are 85 members of Somalis and foreigners. 42 of that figure are Somalis while the rest are Al-Qaeda operatives from different outside countries as indicated in a year long investigation made by reporters from Waagacusub Media and Radio Mogadishu.

The leader of the Al-Qaeda members fighting along side Al-Shabaab insurgent group in Somalia is Fazul Abdullah Mohamed of Comorous Islands as his deputy is Mohamed Faadil of Saudi Arabia while the head of the network's military operations was Khalid Al-Muhajir Al-Mustafa who was killed in the current ongoing fighting in Mogadishu between Al-Shabaab and the government troops backed by the African Union peacekeepers on 3 September 2010.

Foriegner Al-Qaeda fighters who escaped from thier origin countries and are still at large have a big influence in Al-Shabaab administration in Somalia and this may certainly create bigger security concern in the East Africa region.

The names, ranks and clans of the Somali executive members in Al-Shabaab are as here below:-

1. Ahmed Abdi Godane (Abu-Zubeyr), the leader of Al-Shabaab from Isaq clan of Arab sub-clan.

2. (Abu-Zalma)Ibrahim Haji Jama Meecaad Afkhani , the first deputy leader of Al-Shabaab and in charge of finance, from Isaq clan of Sacad Muse sub-clan.

3. Mukhtar Robow Ali (Abu-Mansor), the second deputy leader of Al-Shabaab, from Rahanweyn clan of Leesaan sub-clan.

4. Fuad Mohamed Khalaf (Ina-Shangole), the head of public awareness of Al-Shabaab, from Darod clan of Awrtabe sub-clan.

5. Mukhtar Abu-Muslim, the head of Fatwas, from Darod clan of Ogaden sub-clan.

6. Khalif Mohamud Warsame (Khalif Cadale) the head of tracking down the NGO's, from Hawiye clan of Habar-Gidir, Ayr.

7. Madey Mamad Karatay, the head of destroying the graves, from Tuni clan.

8. Omar Mohamud Jimale (Matan), the head of security guards of Godane, from Hawiye clan of Duduble sub-clan.

9. Ali Muhumad Rage (Ali Dhere), the spokesman for Al-Shabaab, from Hawiye clan of Murursade sub-clan.

10. Abdulahi Timo Jilic, the head of technician for the weapons and salesman, from Hawiye clan of Murursade.

11. Hassan Afgooye, the especial servant for Godane, from Dir clan of Biyo-Maal.

12. Abdulahi Nadir, the interpretor for Godane, from Isaq clan of Toljecel sub-clan.

13. Hussein Ali Fidow (Hussein Daynile), the head of regions, from Hawiye clan of Murursade sub-clan.

14. Hassan Dhere, the head of the roped property, from Hawiye clan of Habar Gidir, Ayr sub-clan.

15. Hassan Afrah, the head of relationship with pirates, from Hawiye clan of Saleban sub-clan.

16. Mohamed Omar, the head of services and caring for the foreign fighters, from Darod clan of Ogaden sub-clan.

17. Bashir Qoorgaab, the commander of mortar brigade, from Hawiye clan of Habar gidir, Saleban sub-clan.

18. Ahmed Osoble, the police commander, from Hawiye clan of Hawadle sub-clan.

19. Mahad Karatey but known as (Sheik Burhan), the head of trainings, from Hawiye clan of Ayr sub-clan.

20. Ahmed Fifle, the head of finance, from Hawiye clan of Habargidir,Eyr sub-clan.

21. Hassan Turki, the father of Mujahideens and leader of Raskamboni brigades, from Darod clan of Ogaden sub-clan.

22. Mohamed Dulyaden, the contector of Raskamboni and Al-Shabaab, from Darod clan of Ogaden sub-clan.

23. Farhan Moahmed Kahiye, the head of defence, from Hawiye clan of Saleban sub-clan.

24. Abdulahi Hirane, the head of lower Shabelle region, from Dir clan of Biyo-maal sub-clan.

25. Dahir Gamaey but uses the name (Abdi Al-Haq), the judge of Al-Shabaab, from Hawiye clan of Duduble sub-clan.

26. Ali Muse, the treasure, from Hawiye clan of Habargidir, Faqashini sub-clan.

27. ali Mohamed Hussein, the head of Banadir province, from Hawiye clan of Abgal sub-clan.

28. Abdulahi Haji (Daud), the head of assasinations, from Hawiye clan of Murursade sub-clan.

29. Omar Faruk, the head of police in Banadir province, from Darod clan of Majerteen sub-clan.

30. Mohamed Balli, the head of the propogandas (the man who described Hawiye as infedals) from Darod clan of Majerten sub-clan.

31. Aden Oonbe, the head of social affairs, not known yet for his clan.

32. Farah Ali Hussein, the head of Dacwa in middle Shabelle region, from Hawiye clan of Abgal sub-clan.

33. Yusuf Kaba Kudukade, the head of Galgadud region, from Hawiye clan of Abgal sub-clan.

34. Abdiqani Kaba Jecel, the deputy mayor of lower Shabelle region, from Darod clan of Ogaden sub-clan.

35. Abdirahim Ali Mudey, the head of taxes for coil production, from Hawiye clan of Galjecel sub-clan.

36. Hassan Qodax, the head of militias in Gedo, from Darod clan of Marehan sub-clan.

37. Hussein Daqare, the head of Gedo region, from Darod clan of Marehan sub-clan.

38. Ali Roti, the man in charge of burying the children killed in the war, from Darod clan of Majerten sub-clan.

39. Abshir Ali Bukhari, the head of middle Shabelle region, from Darod clan of Ogaden sub-clan.

40. Yusuf Moalim Abdukadir, deputy leader, not known yet for his clan.

41. Mohamud Mohamed Nor (MMNOR), the deputy commander in chief for the invasions, from Isaq clan of Habarjeclo sub-clan.

42. Sahal Isku Dhuuq, the head of kidnappings of aid workers for ransom, from Dir clan of Biyomaal sub-clan.


The Rest @ Sunatimes

Shangole and Mohamed Mohamou

Street FIGHT:Conflict

Swedish-Somali Al-Shabaab Leader Reported Dead

TFG Says Fuad Shangole Killed in Garbaharey Clashes

05/03/2011 02:41 AM ET

A senior al-Shabaab commander, Swedish-Somali Fuad Mohmaed Qalaf (Shangole), has reportedly been killed in fierce fighting between pro-government forces and the insurgent group in Garbaharey, Gedo Region.

The Transitional Federal Government’s Gedo Governor, Mohamed Kalil, told the UN-funded Radio Bar Kulan that Shangole was among the dead as al-Shabaab launched a fierce counter-attack on Garbaharey, which the government seized control of without a fight last week.

Local sources told Somalia Report at least 28 combatants were killed when hundreds of al-Shabaab fighters launched mortar attacks and waves of ground troops against the forces of the TFG and moderate Islamist militia Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa (ASWJ) after morning prayers.

Sources close to al-Shabaab in Bardera, south of Garbaharey, confirmed some senior officials were among the dead - one of them al-Shabaab regional head of public awareness, Sheikh Mohamed Mohamoud. An AWSJ senior commander who spoke to Somalia Report could not confirm the names of those killed, but said the identities of four senior al-Shabaab leaders and foreign Jihadists would be disclosed to the media Tuesday. Kalil said that passports and photographs of the dead would also be revealed.

Shangole spent 12 years in Sweden as an asylum seeker, working as an Imam, before returning to join the Islamic Court Union. When Ethiopian forces ousted the Islamist regime in 2006, Shangole joined the al-Shabaab insurgency. According to Swedish media, he was personally involved in stoning to death a 13-year-old girl and cutting off the hand of a man accused of theft.

Pro-government forces in Garbaharey claimed victory in the fighting, but the situation was still tense late Monday and TFG and ASWJ forces could be seen in and around the town. Reports from Dolow, a border town near Ethiopia, said TFG and ASWJ fighters were sent to Garbaharey to reinforce to the troops.

Residents in Garbaharey had been expecting a fight since Saturday, when al-Shabaab began to dig in around 3 kilometers outside the town.

The government has been making gains in Gedo, a region that borders Kenya and Ethiopia, seizing key towns from al-Shabaab. The militants have shifted to ambushes, laying landmines and launching hit-and-run attacks in an attempt to halt the advance.

The Rest @ Somali Report

Burcad Badeed

Al Shabaab

Dowladda

Colaad

Samafal

UN-ta

Opinion

Media

Regions

Government

Buzz

Developments

Voices

Piracy

Tactics

Fisheries

Conflict

Crime

Tactics

Review

Print

Politics

Interviews

Reports

Analysis

Refugees

Drought

Health

Security

Food

Gender

Children

Statistics

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


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

Robow challenges Godane (Zubeyr)

Islamists in control of South and Central Somalia are fighting internally as they try and recover from battle losses. Shabaab fought and took Burhakaba town, formerly held by Hizbul Islam.

-Shimron
****************
A months-long dispute among senior members of Somali insurgent group Al Shabaab took a worse turn Saturday when a senior commander condemned the group’s top chief, Radio Garowe reports.

Sheikh Fuad

Sheikh Fuad Mohamed Khalaf “Shongole” gave a publicly address at a mosque in Mogadishu’s Bakara Market, saying that Al Shabaab chief Ahmed Abdi Godane alias Sheikh Muktar Abdirahman Abu-Zubeyr has “hidden agendas.”

“A leader is he who addresses his people and leads his people towards all good things, but fighting everyone is not part of the solution,” Shongole said.

Local sources report that the dispute among Al Shabaab’s top leaders intensified earlier this month when Al Shabaab insurgents attacked and seized Burhakaba town, located in Bay region northwest of Mogadishu.

Upwards of 30 people were killed in the clashes between Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam insurgent factions. Burhakaba had previously been under the control of Hizbul Islam, a group led by Islamist hardliner Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys.

“The fighting in Burhakaba was not jihad, because its haram [prohibited] for a Muslim person to kill another Muslim person and then brag about it,” Shongole said publicly at the mosque.

• Insiders say Shongole is allied to Al Shabaab’s deputy commander, Sheikh Muktar Robow “Abu Mansur,” a native of Bay region. Godane, Al Shabaab’s top chief, is a native in northwestern Somalia separatist region of Somaliland and has no population base in southern Somalia.

This is the first time that a senior member of Al Shabaab has publicly condemned Godane, thereby publicly revealing the fractures that occurred within the group since September fighting when upwards of 800 Al Shabaab fighters were killed in Mogadishu clashes with African Union-backed Somali government forces.

Abu Mansur [Robow] was reportedly angered by the massive losses suffered by Al Shabaab, but his dispute with Godane briefly disappeared from the public until Shongole’s public comments.

The U.S. government designated Al Shabaab as a terrorist organization in early 2008, subsequently followed by other Western powers including Australia.

The Rest @GAROWE ONLINE

Conflict within the al Shabaab Leadership

A Hersi reports that abde Godane has alegedely been "fired" from his post has head of al Shabaab and has been temporarily replaced by Ibrahim Haji Jama.


MOGADISHU (Sunatimes) The international terror network of Al-Qaeda has made a change to the leadership of Al-Shabaab militant group in Somalia firing Ahmed Godane from his position as the leader of that movement. Sources told Sunatimes on Friday.

Al-Qaeda temporarily named Ibrahim Haji Jama to be the leader of Al-Shabaab in Somalia. Jama is the same clan with the sacked Amir who has been leading the group for three years.

His removal from the office came after failing to diplomatically solving the deep rooted conflict within Al-Shabaab administration.

This unlikely, but reflects the conflict in al Shabaab leadership

Shimron Issachar

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

Fuad Shangole, who had last week been talking to the local media about the conflict the Al-Shabaab leader, said a person (Ahmed Godane) who hid his face with mask because of fear could not claim to be the leader of Mujahideens calling on that person to show up if he is pleasant with the death.

No word yet from Godane himself but reliable sources told Sunatimes that he refused to guide [abide?] with Al-Qaeda’s order.

Some reports say it would be difficult that Ahmed Godane step down.

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

Statement from Abu Mansoor al-Amriki

What follows is most of a staetment from Abu Mansoor al-Amriki, alegedly a former US Special Forces trainer who went to Bosnia to fight, the fought and trained in Caucases, now Somalia.

He is now a Commander with the Shabaab in Somalia. He recently made a video recruiting American Muslims, and may have been involved in recruiting American Somalia Immigrant Parents to send their children, the Minnesotta Mujahadeen to Somalia, some of which ended up as suicide bombers.

What it reveals

• His believes are classic Sunni Salfist of the Qutbist vareity, cut from the same cloth as Ossamah Ben ladin, who who clearly holds in High Regard.
• His description of the differences between the Islamic Courts Union and the Shabaab is one of a first hand witness, and is therefore useful.
• He demonstrates that the Islamist's objectives will never be comfortable with any National identity for very long. That The Umma belong to the Calipha.
• He, along with other islamist true Mujahadeen, believe their lives have been and will be of the higest service to Allah, a distant and exacting God whom they love.
• He illustrates to western readers an example of the Mujadeens devotion. They will be armed Mujahadeen fighting Jihad whether on the battle field, working in western jobs, until they are in prison or dead. Then, they believe that will have earned paradise, to the best of theri ability.
• This is his life; he will choose no other.

It is saddnes to me that one of such devotion is based on a near-miss of his aim to reconcile with God. He seems destined for experiencing and creating tragedy and destruction, only to find that this his Aqidah is fraud, and that Paradise does not await him.

-Shimron

Abu Mansoor al-Amriki

I saw it very important in these recent days to clarify some facts that might be unknown to many. In specific I am referring to that which relates to the Islaamic Courts and the Shabaab.

It is well-know amongst the practicing Muslims of Somalia that these two groups have a long history and they are not from the new groups that have come on the scene. Rather, the founding officers of the Shabaab go back to the fall of Siad Barre and the first battles with the Americans.

However, more important than establishing their presence from a long time is establishing the large and essential difference between the two groups from the very beginning.

• While the Courts used to judge over each individual tribe, the Shabaab were made up of many different tribes and they used to cooperate with the Muhaajireen from the outside.
• Also, while the Courts had a goal limited to the boundaries placed by the Taaghoot, the Shabaab had a global goal including the establishment of the Islaamic Khilaafah in all parts of the world.

This difference did not go away in the days of victory nor has it gone away even up until today. But rather it has grown larger and clearer to everyone; including the stupid Kuffaar.

As for the days of victory, then it is known that the picture presented to the world was the “moderate” picture of the Courts (as they describe them) and they strived in that period to control the financial sources, the direction of the Jihaad, and the foreign affairs.

Despite these facts even the Kuffaar could see something else behind the scenes.

• They publicized that there is an “extremist” group (according to their description) lurking within the government of the Courts. They were right on about most of this except for mistakenly believing that the leader of this extremist group was Hasan Thaahir Uways.
• Therefore, more deservingly, the Shabaab also knew about this reality and they used to encounter many difficulties because of the policies of the Courts.
• Similar to them were the Muhaahijreen who were welcomed at the airport by the Islaamic Courts with terrible statements like: “We don’t need the Muhaajireen,” and they tried to send them back; if it were not for a few of the Shabaab (like Shaykh Fu’aad and Abu Talhah as-Sudaani) who saved many of these Muhaajireen at the airport and tended to their affairs.
• The situation remained like this until the defeat befell and some of the best of the Shabaab became shuhadaa’.

So due to that, many of these realities became hidden to the new fighters who had witnessed the unity in the early days (which was for the purpose of combining the strength of each group, to avoid fitnah in accordance with (Cooperate upon righteousness and piety and do not cooperate upon sin and transgression)), and in order to judge by what Allaah revealed, as all groups claimed to want)

but they did not witness the hidden reality that was lived by those who preceded them on this path.

Therefore, this matter was in need of clarification, without a doubt, but we did not realize the seriousness of this need until after the conferences in Asmara.

These conferences invoked doubt within us for several reasons:

The first : is that Eritrea has not ceased opposing the Mujaahideen in their land. So how could they want to help the Mujaahideen in the neighboring lands? There is no doubt that they are not looking out for what is in our best interest or what is in the best interests of the Jihaad.

The second : is that Eritrea rooted out the Mujaahideen in their land due to a very despicable trick on behalf of the Sudanese government. Namely, they opened the door of politics in order for them to forget armed resistance which is the true solution to the problems of the Ummah today.

So here we have the members of the Courts in the lands of the Kuffaar, underneath their control, sitting in the road of politics which leads to the loss and defeat they were running from.

The third : is that they chose a nationalistic look for these conferences. The very name of their party indicates that this issue is strictly Somali, leaving no room for interference from foreigners (as they call the Muhaajireen) unless the interference comes from John, or Tom, or George! In that case such interference is allowed!

• So, while they deny the presence of Muhaajireen in Somalia (despite the fact that I was seen on al-Jazeerah in a Somali training camp under the name of the Courts before realizing that the Manhaj had become extremely distorted)
• and while they say that they are not in any need of foreigners, their actions indicate that they ARE in need of the apostates from ‘Abdullaah Yusuf’s parliament and the original Kuffaar of Eritrea. Subhaan Allaah! How have the scales of allegiance and enmity been flipped!

The fourth : is that they tried to steal the efforts of the Shabaab by claiming that they are in control of the direction of the Jihaad and the events taking place on the ground from their hotels.All of these affairs would have lead- if not for the proclamation of innocence from these conferences on behalf of the Shabaab- to many problems:

• The first is a lack of clarity of the issue for the Muslims on the outside (even for those on the inside as we have seen from some of the fighters) who might aid us with self, wealth, or supplication.
• The second is a lack of a clear example to guide the Mujaahideen in the future. We see that despite the fact that the Ikhwaan had a good example in Sayyid Qutub and al-Mawdoodi –who both refused to accept entering into the kaafir governments as a solution- it seems that there is no other solution for the problems of the Ummah, according to those who ascribe themselves to the Ikhwaan today, except for the ballot box!

So how would it have been if their beginning was characterized by their exemplary figure compromising his principles and having an unclear manhaj?

• The third is that this matter will be unclear to the populace after coming to power. If the Shabaab differ with the Courts after obtaining victory, the people will see the Shabaab like the Khawaarij, or Jamaa’ah at-Takfeer, or benefit seekers (similar to how they said that the Courts are just one tribe and they didn’t really want to establish Shari’ah in the days of victory). This will lead to many tribulations and a loss of previous gains.
• The fourth is a lack of ability to control the direction of the Jihaad because the wealth and media is in their hands.

Therefore, due to this huge danger the Shabaab- may Allaah reward them- announced that they are free of these conferences.

• At the same time the Muhaajireen (who came to Somalia after the capture of Mogadishu in stages) also felt the need to do this. In due course the Muhaajireen wrote a word of advice to some of those in charge of the Courts regarding these matters.
• Then, after learning that they will continue upon this dangerous path, the Muhaajireen declared their innocence from the Courts alongside their brothers from the Shabaab.

Here now is their announcement that they are free of the deviant leadership of the Courts before all of the Muslims.

This is in regards to what we have seen of the Courts. As for the Manhaj of the Shabaab then we see that they are focused upon the pure manhaj which is adopted by the Mujaahideen in the rest of the blessed lands of Jihaad.

It is the same manhaj repeatedly heard from the mouth of the mujaahid shaykh Usaamah bin Laden. It is the same manhaj heard in the addresses of the lion, the genius, the doctor Ayman ath-Thawaahiri and the one heard in the advices of the shaheed (in shaa’ Allaah), the hero, Abu Mus’ab az-Zarqaawi .The list of the heroes of this time goes on.

We stress here that we are striving to establish the Islaamic Khilaafah from East to West after removing the occupier and killing the apostates.

We will do this while holding on to the Book and the Sunnah, upon the manhaj of the salaf, with the mus-haf in one hand and the sword in the other, beneath the black banner.

We do not care about the blame of the blamers or the threats of scarce provision and we do not need doubtful finances....

...Here is an important point that must be made. Indeed this point is that it is befitting to cooperate with any group from the Muslims (as long as they are truly Muslims) whether the group is the Courts or otherwise.

This must, of course, be in accordance with the guidelines of the correct manhaj.

Finally, before closing this address of mine I would like to mention that there has not ceased to be sincere people amongst the Islaamic Courts. I see them to be sincere, but Allaah is the One who will truly bring them to account.

Therefore, these words do not mean that all of them want to destroy the religion and betray the Somali Jihaad.

However, sometimes unmindful people require a harsh reminder to wake them from their deep sleep......

Abu Mansoor al-Amriki

The Rest @ Prisoner of Joy

Somalia: Hawiye Council Spokesman 'Threatened' By Al Shabaab

Email This Page Print This Page Comment on this article Visit The Publisher's Site
Garowe Online (Garowe)

5 October 2008Posted to the web 6 October 2008

The spokesman for a self-appointed Somali clan union - the Hawiye Tradition and Unity Council - told reporters Sunday that council members have been threatened by local insurgents.
Ahmed Dirie, spokesman for the Hawiye Council, said al Shabaab fighters had issued an order calling for the death of council members.

GA_googleFillSlot("AllAfrica_Story_Inset");

"I don't know what this group [al Shabaab] who threaten us want, but they are not ones working for the religion or the interests of the Somali people," Dirie said.

He accused al Shabaab spokesman Muktar Robow "Abu Mansur" of being "an obstacle" to the delivery of humanitarian aid in Mogadishu and the central regions.
Dirie said that, while airplanes and foreigners land safely at airports in Bay and Bakool regions,
"Abu Mansur has refused for airports in Mogadishu and the central regions to operate and it appears to me there are hidden agendas."

Mogadishu and the central regions are predominately home to Hawiye clansmen, while Abu Mansur is a member of the Digil and Mirifle clans that traditionally inhabit Bay and Bakool regions, including the town of Baidoa.

Al Shabaab insurgents have targeted Mogadishu's airport with mortars at least four times since September 16, when the guerrilla group issued a threat to shoot down airplanes using the airport.

Airport-related violence has killed upwards of 80 people and helped drive a deeper wedge among the insurgents, who were already reeling from the armed resistance's split into pro-peace and pro-war camps. [ READ: Islamic Courts, al Shabaab 'on verge of war']

Hawiye Council members have opposed the airport attacks, along with airline companies, civil society groups and the Islamic Courts.

"If we are killed, we were already waiting for death. But those who pointed us out and use small children who don't know anything [to kills us] will follow us and will be killed," Dirie said defiantly.

Recently, al Shabaab member Fu'ad Shangole declared inside Mogadishu's Bakara Market that Hawiye Council members will be shot after accusing them of "working to divide up the muqawama," a reference to the armed resistance.

It is a change of fortune for Mr. Ahmed Dirie, who was arrested in November 2007 by the Somali government for allegedly supporting the insurgents. He spent more than two months in jail.

In recent weeks, Dirie and Hawiye Council Chairman Mohamed Hassan Haad led a council delegation that visited towns between Galkayo and Beletwein.

Local sources reported that the council elders pushed for the establishment of a regional government for Hawiye-inhabited areas in the central regions during their road trip, but received "mixed reaction" from region to region.

According to insiders, the idea for a Hawiye-based regional administration originated after the Djibouti Agreement between the Somali government and an Islamist-led opposition alliance.

A former government official in Puntland, who is an insightful analyst of southern politics, tells Garowe Online that "a process of Hawiyism" is going on in Mogadishu and the central regions."The intention is to drive out al Shabaab from Hawiye-dominated areas...al Shabaab's major bases are in the Jubba regions, the Shabelle regions and also in Bay and Bakool," said our source, who did not want to be named for security-related reasons.

He described al Shabaab fighters as "without clan," while noting that the Islamic Courts factions were originally conceived in the 1990s as clan-based courts protecting sections of Mogadishu.

According to the analyst, "c lan-based groups within the Islamic Courts umbrella now support the peace process and want a share in the government, a move that largely alienates al Shabaab.

The Rest @ AllAfrica.com