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Africa Horn

Turkey to issue arrest warrant for Shaboob leaders

2014-06-03

Turkey will apply to INTERPOL following a court in Ankara’s ruling to issue an arrest warrant for five al-Shabab leaders in relation to a suicide attack in Somalia. Ankara’s 6th Penal Court has ruled to issue an arrest warrant on five Ethiopian al-Shabaab leaders as part of a probe into a suicide attack on the Turkish Embassy, which killed an embassy personnel in Mogadishu in July last year. Ankara’s public prosecutor will also apply to INTERPOL to issue a red alert on the suspects after determining that the attack was held upon their leaders’ instructions. On July 28, al Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab militants staged a suicide attack on a Turkish Embassy annex, killing one Turkish guard and wounding three others. The court ordered the arrest in absentia of Ahmed Abdi aw-Mohamed, the leader of the terrorist organization, Sheikh Mukhtar Robow, the deputy leader, a senior commander Fuad Mohamed Khalaf, the spiritual leader Hassan Dahir Aweys and Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki, another senior leader. During the attack police officers who guarded the Turkish Embassy annex, housing Turkish diplomatic staff, managed to kill two assailants but a third attacker detonated a vehicle laden with explosives. Personally I think the Turks should send out a hunting party, and load up on mustache wax and truncheons...

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Africa Horn

Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys' home raided

2014-05-27

MOGADISHU -- Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) officers have raided a home housing former leader of the now defunct Hisbul Islam insurgents and Al Shabaab terror group Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, seizing his laptop, TV and mobile phone, Garowe Online reports. Following an audio recording provided to Somali media by Aweys aides, Independent sources tell GO that Mogadishu-based security agencies have been tracking Aweys who was placed under house arrest near the heavily fortified compound of Villa Somalia in late January. Aweys was transferred from Habar Khadijo intelligence base to a residence near the presidential palace. The seizure of electronic devices which were a source of information for Aweys comes after Federal Government of Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has expressed his dismay over the recent tape by the wanted Al Shabaab chief. In an audio message distributed to media outlets on May 15, date on which youth groups hold rallies commemorating Somali youth Day heated up the debate about the fate of Hassan Dahir Aweys at public places, mainly teashops in Mogadishu. As a result of bitter feud and violent dissension within Al Shabaab ranks, Sheikh Aweys escaped from Barawe coastal town of Lower Shabelle region in southern Somalia, after Al Shabaab chief Ahmed Godane dispatched Al Shabaab death squads to Aweys and other officials including his deputy Ibrahim Haji Jama Micad (Ibrahim Afghani), who had made allegations against Godane. Sheikh Aweys was transported by plane from Adado district in Galgadud region of central Somalia, where he reportedly "surrendered" to Himan and Heeb local administration, which later transferred to Federal Government in Mogadishu in June 2013.

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Africa Horn

‘Terror Chief Aweys’ placed under house arrest in Mogadishu

2014-01-31

MOGADISHU -- A wanted Al Shabaab official Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys who has been in custody over the past six months was put under house arrest in Mogadishu on Wednesday evening, Garowe Online reports. Unfortunate since he could have been put under mortuary arrest... According to independent sources, Somali Federal Government soldiers last night escorted Aweys shortly after he was released from an intelligence base as a result of lengthy discussions between Mogadishu-based government officials and Hawiye clan elders. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud previously described Aweys a ‘stubborn person' who isn't willing to renounce violence but political analysts say the latest move succumbed him to abide by his clan elders' suggestions. For now... Sources within Somalia Federal Government tell Garowe Online News Agency that Aweys was relocated to a heavily fortified building in one of Mogadishu's neighborhoods: "Hassan Dahir Aweys had been in Habar-Khadijo intelligence base and now he remains under the protection of government forces," said an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the news. Speaking to the media in Mogadishu, Mohamed Osman Arus former spokesman of the defunct insurgent group Hisbul Islam said that Aweys is still in detention. "This means he was released from custody and again placed in another detention," added Arus. Following bitter feud and violent dispute within Al Shabaab ranks, Sheikh Aweys escaped from Barawe coastal town of Lower Shabelle region in southern Somalia, after Al Shabaab chief Ahmed Godane dispatched Al Shabaab death squads to Aweys and other officials including his deputy Ibrahim Haji Jama Micad (Ibrahim Afghani), who had made allegations against Godane. Sheikh Aweys was transported by plane from Adado district in Galgadud region of central Somalia, where he reportedly "surrendered" to Himan and Heeb local administration, which later transferred to Federal Government in Mogadishu in June 2013.

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Africa Horn

Are these the faces behind city mall attack?

2013-09-30

[Daily Nation (Kenya)] Ahmed Abdi Godane, alias, Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr Al-Shabaab founder and overall commander. A leaked National Security Intelligence (NIS) report says that early this year Godane held meetings in Somalia to come up with strategies on how to execute attacks in Kenya. The FBI has put a $7 million bounty on him. Godane, who was born in northern Somalia, now known as Somaliland, has been leading al-Shabaab since 2008. He studied accounting in Pakistan and while there he occasionally travelled to Afghanistan where he came into contact with al-Qaeda, led by the late Osama bin Laden. When he returned home he founded the northern wing of Somalia's al-Ittihad al-Islami (Islamic Union), which was established by Somali Mujahiddins returning from Afghanistan. He was to later start recruiting and indoctrinating the militia who were later to start attacks against Western interests in Somalia, including kidnapping and killing of Western nationals. Godane was to later join the Council of Islamic Courts before teaming up with Aden Hashi Farah to form al-Shabaab when they split from CIC. ********** Sheikh Mukhtar Robow alias Abu Mansur Al-Shabaab deputy leader A leaked NIS report says Muktar Sheikh Robow and Dahir Aweys arrived in Hela Marer area, Gedo region, from Ufuro area in the Bay region, Somalia, on March 22. They held a meeting with 50 other leaders where they discussed the mode of training for their operatives as well as plan on how to carry out attacks on vital installations in Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Mombasa and Nairobi. The FBI has put a $5 million bounty on Robow. Robow, the deputy leader of al-Shabaab, is also a former spokesman for the group. He was one of the founders of the terror group. He is from Baidoa in the Bay region of Somalia, where his Rahanweyn clan holds overwhelming influence. Robow established the first militant Islamist training camp in Somalia, al-Hudda, in Huddur in 1996. He reportedly left Somalia in 2000 to train with the Taliban in Afghanistan. He returned to Somalia after the Taliban fell from power. In 2003, he helped create al-Shabaab from the remnants of al Ittihad al Islami. *********** Sheikh Ahmed Iman Ali According to a leaked National Security Intelligence report, Iman -- who was appointed by Al-Shabaab as its de facto leader of Kenyan fighters in Somalia -- was among the masterminds of the Westgate attack. "Al-Shabaab remains focused on conducting attacks through individuals that have not been arrested before. The masterminds of the intended attacks are Kenyans, who are in middle and senior management levels of the terror group. Among them; Maalim Abass Guyo, Ahmed Iman Ali and Jan Mohamed Khan alias Abu Musab Al Mombasa," the NIS report says. Last year, Iman released a video declaring war against Kenya on behalf of Al-Shabaab. Interviews with those who know Sheikh Iman, a former chairman of Muslim Youth Centre (MYC) in Pumwani, Nairobi, say he has been controversial since his days at Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology, where he graduated with a degree in engineering. Born either in 1973 or 1974, Iman presents security agents with something new in the fight against terrorism. Those who know him say he was a charming preacher with a fanatical following among various Kenyan communities. ************ Samantha Lewthwaite a.k.a. "White Widow" The British media has claimed she was involved in the terrorist attack on the Westgate Shopping Mall. There is no evidence so far to link her to the attack but police and security forces say Samantha Lewthwaite-- the widow of one of the four suicide bombers who devastated London in July 2005 -- was involved in the Kenya attack, let alone being a "mastermind," as the British papers have claimed. The International Police (Interpol) has issued a red-alert calling for arrest. She is wanted by Kenya "on charges of being in possession of explosives and conspiracy to commit a felony dating back to December 2011" as part of a suspected plot to bomb cities along the Kenyan coast at Christmas. ************ Abu Sandheere He is believed to have been the one who escorted the terrorists who attacked Westgate Shopping Mall. He is suspected to be a 50-year-old Kenyan man who is an associate of the late Al-Qaeda leader Fazul Abdullah. Sandheere, whose parents were a Maasai and a European, is thought to have escaped moments after the assault started on Saturday. "He escorted the attackers to the mall and then left as people were fleeing. He then travelled to the border and crossed to Somalia," said an intelligence source. According to counter-terrorism sources, the man seconded to Al-Shabaab by the Al-Qaeda network arrived in Somalia on Friday after days of avoiding the tight security that had been mounted across the country to stop suspected terrorists from escaping. Sandheere, said to be the regional Al-Qaeda man in charge of intelligence, logistics and special operations, escaped from Westgate with two other unidentified terrorists. He is also described as being "extremely sharp".

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Africa Horn

al-Shaboobs implement positive leadership development program

2013-08-05

MARKA, Somalia -- Heavy fighting erupted in Gobale vicinity of Lower Shabelle region between the loyalists of Al Shabaab chief Ahmed Godane and former Al Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Mukhtar Robow (Abu Mansur) on Saturday, Garowe Online reports. Local reports say that the fighting lasted for nearly "seven hours" with Robow loyalists gaining the upper hand. "The battle began Saturday's afternoon and stopped at midnight, Militants loyal to Robow are now controlling the area and the local communities fled here," said an eyewitness who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being killed. "Many militants including two foreigners died in the battle and one of the foreigners seemed as battle commander," he added. As dissension and splitting continue to spread within Al Shabaab ranks, in an audio recording provided to Somali media last week, Ahmed Godane, Al Shabaab chief, said an enemy wants to split 'Mujahedeen" lines and I warn those figures not to encourage the group's division. Sheikh Robow is one of senior Al Shabaab members who accused Godane of straying from the path of Jihad and following an attempt to arrest him by Godane militants months ago; he escaped from Ramo Adey village of Bay region where he had bases. Al Shabaab militants loyal to Ahmed Godane previously executed Godane's deputy Ibrahim Haji Jama (Micad) and Abdihamid Hashi Olhaye (Moallim Burhan) in Barawe, a coastal town in Lower Shabelle region. The growing violent dispute within Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab group also resulted to be detained one of their prominent officials, Hassan Dahir Aweys who had been serving in different administrative capacities by the Somali Federal Government after he fled to his native region of Galgudud in late June 2013.

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Africa Horn

Govt calls for calm after protests over terrorist chief's arrest

2013-07-03

MOGADISHU - Somalia's federal government has called for calm on Mogadishu streets after protesters took to the streets demanding the release of terrorist chief Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, Garowe Online reports. "Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys is in good health and is currently in the custody of the Somali Federal Government," Somali Interior and National Security Minister Abdikarim Hussein Guled told a Tuesday press conference in Mogadishu, adding: "Sheikh Aweys will not be transferred over to any foreign government and we call upon the Mogadishu public to calm down". Minister Guled warned against "some groups who are inciting the public with false information, and public incitement is a threat to peace, stability and governance". On Monday, hundreds of people protested in Mogadishu between Banadir and Tarabunka junctions, with protestors shutting down local businesses, chanting anti-government slogans and demanding the release of Sheikh Aweys from prison. Interior Minister Guled apologized for the violent incident on June 29, when Sheikh Aweys was transported by plane from Adado town in Galgadud region of central Somalia to Mogadishu by a group of parliamentarians, elders and warlords. Somali security forces at the Mogadishu airport reportedly "used force" to arrest Aweys upon landing at the airport, while the group of parliamentarians, elders and warlords who accompanied Aweys to Mogadishu were "beaten up and arrested" by the security forces, but everyone was released except Aweys. "This was an unfortunate and unplanned incident, and we apologize to the affected individuals," said Minister Guled. Aweys escaped to his native region of Galgadud in late June 2013, after Al Shabaab death squads were sent to assassinate senior members of Al Shabaab militant group in Barawe coastal town of Lower Shabelle region, in southern Somalia. Al Shabaab death squads sent by Godane reportedly assassinated other senior Al Shabaab members, including Ibrahim Afghani and Moallim Burhan.

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Africa Horn

Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys questioned

2013-07-01

From the map, the 'government' has a ways to go... A top Somali Islamist, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, has been transferred under armed guard from the airport in the capital Mogadishu following his arrival there on Saturday. He is now being questioned at a government intelligence base. Marquess of Queensbury rules? He was moved after a fight broke out between government officials, members of the security forces and clan elders over what to do with him. "Shoot him! Shoot him now! I demand you shoot him now!" "Quiet, Daffy..." He was held after fleeing fighting between factions of the Islamist group, al-Shabab, amid reports of a split in the group. A delegation that accompanied Hassan Dahir Aweys from central Somalia has accused the government of reneging on a promise to grant him an amnesty. The Somali government has made no official comment. They did however snicker loudly... On Saturday, Sheikh Aweys was flown from the northern town of Adado, escorted by government security forces, but it was unclear whether he had surrendered or defected. The United Nations says he gave himself up to government allies after infighting, but clan elders deny this. "Lies! All lies!" Regarded as the elder statesman of Somali Islamists, he has been on a US list of people "linked to terrorism" since shortly after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. The exact cause of the al-Shabab split is not known, but there has been a long-running internal power struggle between its leader Ahmed Abdi Godane and those seen as more moderate who oppose links with al-Qaeda, analysts say.

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Africa Horn

Top Somali militant leader flees former Shebab comrades

2013-06-27

[Pak Daily Times] Veteran Somali Islamist leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys has fled former comrades in the Al-Qaeda linked Shabaab, officials said Wednesday, the most visible sign yet of splits in the long-running insurgency. Is that him in the photo? Gentlemen, hold this example before your eyes when you ponder putting henna on your beard... then let it go grey naturally. On behalf of the world's womanhood, I thank you in advance. Aweys, on both United States and UN Security Council terrorism sanctions lists, has sought shelter in the central Somali province of Himan and Heeb, after festivities with top Shabaab commander Ahmed Abdi Godane. "It looks like he escaped attacks by Al-Shabaab ... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda... ," said Mohamed Omar Hagafey, Himan and Heeb front man, adding he was due to appear in the region's main town of Adado "escorted by the local authorities". Initial reports suggested he was not being held against his will. Himan and Heeb, an autonomous region best known for its pirate and kidnap gangs, is not controlled by Mogadishu's internationally-backed government. Aweys' forces have been allied with Shabaab troops since 2010, but he has been in outspoken opposition to Godane's leadership for more than a year. But the septuagenarian influential holy man -- listed on UN sanctions lists as aged 78 -- is more of a spiritual figurehead than an active commander, and his split alone is likely to have little if any impact on the operational capacity of the Shabaab. A wily but outspoken strategist, Aweys was a top leader of the Islamic Courts Union, a radical group that ruled Somalia in 2006 before being tossed by Æthiopian troops who stormed Somalia in a US-backed invasion. A respected former army colonel who fought in the 1977-78 Æthiopia-Somali war, he later commanded the Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya and Hizb al-Islam forces, before allying his gunnies with the Shabaab three years ago in a common fight to overthrow the government. Aweys, who has recently been based in the southern port of Barawe, one of the few towns left in Shabaab hands, reportedly fled after festivities broke out between troops loyal to him and those of Godane, the main Shabaab leader. Aweys has reportedly been aligned with a rival-Shabaab faction led by Afghan-trained leader Mukhtar Robow. Washington has offered multi-million dollar bounties for several top leaders, including $7 million for Godane and $5 million for Robow, but has offered no reward for Aweys. However, corruption finds a dozen alibis for its evil deeds... US sanctions lists in 2001 named him as a supporter of terrorism.

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Africa Horn

Kenya army in new battles as advance resumes

2011-11-18

[Daily Nation (Kenya)] Kenyan troops on Thursday took up positions outside a key Al-Shabaab ... successor to the Islamic Courts... stronghold as they prepared to launch a fresh offensive to capture Kismayu. After weeks of relative inactivity, residents reported that troops in the central sector of the operation had reached the edge of Afmadow Town. If the town is taken, the soldiers will then push south towards Kismayu and link up with others approaching from Bur Gabo in the south. Military front man, Major Emmanuel Chirchir, said the troops had encountered pockets of resistance from the Orcs and similar vermin as they positioned themselves outside Afmadow. Some resistance "We have now gone beyond Busar where we received some resistance from Al-Shabaab and are heading to Afmadow. As we speak, our men are at a place called Hayo, a short distance of about seven kilometres from Afmadow," Major Chirchir said. Kenyan troops had engaged in a fierce shootout at Busar on Wednesday, he said. "Our troops and the TFG fighters attacked Al-Shabaab bases in Busar yesterday. We killed 12 of them and did not suffer any casualties," he said. Afmadow's capture will open the way for a march on Kismayu port, a key objective of the Kenyan operation. m mThe Orcs and similar vermin generate millions of shillings every year from the port, which they use to sustain their bloody campaign in the Horn of Africa. Kenyan troops in the southern sector were on Thursday believed to have taken control of Kolbio, a town a few kilometres inside Somalia along one of Al-Shaabab's transport corridors. Major Seif S. Rashid, the second in charge at this sector, told Nation there had been "major developments" in the area, where the troops have been concentrated over the past three days. "We believe the trading centre has been taken by Kenyan forces. We are yet to get proper details on that so it would have to be confirmed after some time," said Major Rashid. The capture of Kolbio will set the pace for movements of the troops towards Baddada, a town about 60km away and is understood to have been the destination for Al-Shaabab fleeing Ras Kamboni and Bur Gabo. Reports quoting locals in Lower Juba and Gedo regions in Southern Somalia indicated that Kenyans troops had been seen moving from Dobley and Tabto towns towards Afmadow. "Kenyan forces in armoured vehicles occupied new positions outside the town of Qooqani," said a resident who refused to be identified for security reasons. "They kept on engaging in military manoeuvres," he added. An aid worker in Afmadow, who spoke to Nation, said the troops were at Hayo. "Al-Shabaab are all over this place. There is no tension in the town and people are going about their businesses peacefully. "I think the heavy rains have really curtailed any movement at the moment," said the aid worker. Somali media quoted residents saying the Kenyans set to sit in solemn silence in a dull, dark dock, in a pestilential prison with a life-long lock an unidentified number of youngsters in Beles Qooqani and surrounding areas. An Al-Shabaab official in Busar claimed his Orcs and similar vermin had killed eight soldiers from the Kenya Defence Forces and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and captured three others. This was immediately denied by Major Chirchir, who reconfirmed 12 Orcs and similar vermin had been killed. On Wednesday night, a position held by Ras Kamboni Brigade, a group allied to the TFG at Kulbio near Dobley, was also attacked by Al-Shabaab fighters. Meanwhile, ...back at the fist fight, Jake ducked another roundhouse, then parried with his left, then with his right, finally with his chin... the whereabouts of Al-Shabaab's spiritual leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys remained unknown four days after Arclight airstrikes hit a building in Afgoye where the thugs' commanders were holding a meeting. Amisom military front man Lt Col Paddy Ankunda said it was not clear whether Sheikh Aweys had been killed or injured in the attack. "We do not know the condition of Sheikh Dahir Aweys who is said to have been seriously injured during the Sunday attacks; the other two, Godane and the front man Mohamud Rage have spoken, but Aweys has not," said Lt Col Ankunda.

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Africa Horn

Missile raid targeted top Shabaab leaders

2011-11-16

[Daily Nation (Kenya)] The Sunday night missile attack near Mogadishu targeted a meeting of top Al-Shabaab ... Harakat ash-Shabaab al-Mujahidin aka the Mujahideen Youth Movement. It was originally the youth movement of the Islamic Courts, now pretty much all of what's left of it. They are aligned with al-Qaeda but operate more like the Afghan or Pakistani Taliban. The organization's current leader is Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad, also known as Ibrahim al-Afghani. Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, a Kenyan al-Qaeda member, is considered the group's military leader... commanders. Among those at the meeting at the cut-thoats' bases were spiritual leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, Ahmad Godane Abu Zubayr and a Mr 'Amerika'. The whereabouts of the three remained unknown on Tuesday night amid reports that they had been killed. "There were air strikes in Afgoye and K50, which are controlled by Al-Shabaab. The area of concentration was Afgoye where the three Al-Shabaab commanders were holding a meeting. "We are informed that they hit their targets," said African Union Mission for Somalia deputy special representative Wafula Wamunyinyi. Mr Wamunyinyi could not, however, confirm whether the three were killed or injured during the strikes, saying information from the ground was still scanty. He could also not confirm whether the air strikes were carried out by the Kenyan forces or the African Union troops. "All we know at the moment is that the allied forces hit their targets, some forces of Evil were killed and others were maimed but it is difficult to tell because the forces of Evil who control the town have blocked anybody from reaching the scene," he said. In Nairobi, President Kibaki welcomed the support Kenya was receiving from regional governments in its drive to wipe out Al-Shabaab. The Head of State said a stable and peaceful Somalia would create an environment conducive for development in the region. The President was officially opening a regional infrastructure conference in Nairobi. He added: "I therefore welcome the support Kenya has obtained from both its citizens and regional governments as we embark on the operation to deal with forces of Evil based in Somalia who have sought to destabilise our economies." East African Community members Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi are among those that have backed the joint Kenya's armed forces and Somalia's Transitional Federal Government soldiers to weed out the rag-tag militia. Kenya also has support from the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development members with Djibouti offering troops to hold areas taken over from Al-Shabaab. The country also has backing from the European Union ...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing... , the US, Japan, South Africa and Egypt among others. Media reports claimed that two Al-Shabaab commanders were killed in the Sunday raid on Afgoye. They quoted Somali officials claiming that Sheikh Dahir Aweys and Mr Gobane were killed in a massive blast in the town located about 32 kms west of Mogadishu. The kaboom was at a "compound" known to be used by the cut-thoats, according to Sunatimes and Mareeg Online.

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Africa Horn

Kenyan troops gear up for fresh Shabaab raids

2011-11-11

[Daily Nation (Kenya)] Aerial attacks on Al-Shabaab ... Harakat ash-Shabaab al-Mujahidin aka the Mujahideen Youth Movement. It was originally the youth movement of the Islamic Courts, now pretty much all of what's left of it. They are aligned with al-Qaeda but operate more like the Afghan or Pakistani Taliban. The organization's current leader is Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad, also known as Ibrahim al-Afghani. Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, a Kenyan al-Qaeda member, is considered the group's military leader... positions will continue but Somali towns will not be deliberately targeted, the Kenya military said on Thursday. Air Force jets and helicopter gunships will only target Al-Shabaab bases and not civilians as they mount the search for weapons suspected to have been flown in from Eritrea. "We will continue engaging Al-Shabaab camps from the air, but we will not bomb towns," Kenya Defence Forces front man Major Emmanuel Chirchir said. The new approach follows recent talks between Kenya and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Nairobi over the ongoing military operation in the war torn nation. TFG's Minister for Defence Hussein Arab Issa said the Nairobi talks had resolved that Kenya's Defence Forces would not carry out air strikes in southern Somalia in order to flush out the rebels. "We discussed with the Kenyan government and agreed that they will not raid Somali towns from the air," a local broadcaster quoted Mr Issa telling the press in Mogadishu on Thursday. Last week, Kenyan troops fighting Al-Shabaab inside Somalia placed 10 towns under surveillance after the cut-throats apparently brought in a consignment of arms for retaliatory attacks. Avoid contact with orcs The military advised residents of the 10 towns -- Baidoa, Baadheere, Baydhabo, Dinsur, Afgooye, Bwale, Barawe, Jilib, Kismayu and Afmadow -- to avoid any contact with the cut-throats so that they are not endangered in case of attacks. "In line with the Kenya Defence Forces strategy of diminishing Al-Shabaab's effectiveness and weapons use, the aforementioned towns will remain under imminent attack. "Residents in the towns are advised to avoid contact with Al-Shabaab militia," Major Chirchir was quoted then. On Thursday, Major Chirchir clarified that Kenyan forces would only target Al-Shabaab bases and not civilians and warned locals to keep away from militia camps. "We ask local Somalis not to mix with the cut-throats because we will target them," he said. Reports from southern Somalia said the cut-throats had turned to elders in the region to help them recruit fighters and amass weapons. Local media reported that Al-Shabaab leaders in Juba region had held a closed-door meeting with more than 60 elders to plead with them to allow their youths to join the orc group as they regroup to counter a joint offensive from Kenyan and TFG troops. The reports, quoting local Al-Shabaab leader Yakub Ali lend credence to information that the orc group was disintegrating in the face of the Kenyan offensive. Scores of cut-throats have been killed in the operation with others defecting to the pro-government forces. The reports quoted sources in the meeting saying that the elders had rejected the orcs' request, terming it a "hard decision" to make since they advocate for peace only. On Tuesday, Al-Shabaab's senior most leader, Hassan Dahir Aweys admitted that his group was facing resistance from clan elders who had refused to release their youths to join the orcs. Aweys reportedly told worshippers during prayers on the outskirts of Mogadishu that nearly all clans were beginning to shift allegiance to the TFG, which, with the support of troops from the Africa Mission in Somalia (Amisom) now controls 98 per cent of the capital.

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Africa Horn

Al-Shabab calls on Hizbul Islam leaders to join them

2010-06-25

Al Shabaab spokesman, Sheikh Ali Mahamud Raage (Ali Dheere) called all Hizbul Isalm leaders to join Al Shabab after he ended his visit in southern Somali regions and he emphasized his call adding if Hizbul Islam refuses this call Al Shabab will consider Hizbul Isalm as enemy. “Al Shabab seized the control of Beledweyne, the capital of Hiran region in central Somalia and it was good step, at this time we call all Hisbul Islam leaders To join Al Shabab', said Ali Dheere speaking in Mogadishu. Sheikh Ali Mahamud Raage said Hisbul Islam diverted itself from the direct direction which the two groups have agreed before. He said that Hisbul Islam leadership, including Sheikh Hasan Dahir Aweys could not be trusted since more Hisbul Islam leaders with their weapons joined to Somali transitional federal government which Al Shabab wants to oust from the country. Ali Dhere declared Al-Shabab will not force any group but he said this time is the only time in which the honest people who want jihad and others will be known. Al Shabab spokesman, Sheikh Ali Mahamud Raage said Al Shabab controls most of Somali regions and from now on there will be no name called “Hizbul Islam' since Hizbul Islam failed the war they sided with Alshabab. Meanwhile, Sheikh Ali Mahamud Raage attacked newly appointed especial UN envoy for Somalia Mr Mahiga and underlined the new envoy is another setback to UN. Ali Dhere said Al Shabab will not stop their fighting against AMISOM and Somali transitional federal government.

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