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Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys Somali Islamic Courts Africa Horn 20060517 Link
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Africa North
Sheik Aweys takes over chairmanship of Hisbul Islam
2009-05-28
The leader of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys has taken over the leadership of Hisbul Islam insurgent group on Tuesday. Dr. Omar Iman said he handed over the chairmanship of the group to Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys and added the group agreed the issue.
'Nuther nice pic of Aweys' beard in all its hennaed glory at the link.
Sheik Aweys, who spoke to the reporters, said he accepted the leadership of Hisbul Islam and welcomed it.
"You may call me...Your Excellency."
It is not known the reason behind the decision of why Dr. Omar Iman handed over the power of the Insurgent group.
Object lessons can be so very messy. It's for the best if they remain rumours.
Hisbul Islam comprises four insurgent groups and it was formed after the Somali parliament elected Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed as the president of Somalia. Hisbul Islam is allied with al-Shabaab and they are jointly fighting against the Somali fragile government.
Link


Africa Horn
Hope and Doubt Greet Peace Deal in Somalia
2008-06-12
Peace is no small feat in Somalia, and if the reaction to the accord struck on Monday night is any gauge, peace may still be a long way off.
Chances are somewhere between minuscule and "no way in Hell."
On
“The so-called deal is rubbish and inconsequential,” Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, a strident Islamist leader, told The Associated Press. “It will not in any way result in peace.”
Tuesday, militant Islamist leaders immediately rejected the deal, which had been signed by moderate Islamists and the beleaguered transitional government of Somalia. “The so-called deal is rubbish and inconsequential,” Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, a strident Islamist leader, told The Associated Press. “It will not in any way result in peace.” Instead, he said, the deal will bring more bloodshed.
Usually I make a point of not agreeing with Sheikh Aweys, but I'll make an exception in this case.
He was among the key Islamist figures who boycotted the peace talks, which had been organized by the United Nations to end the combat between Somalia’s transitional government and a determined insurgency.

Moderate Islamist leaders, under the banner of the Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia, have agreed to a cease-fire in return for Ethiopian troops’ being replaced by United Nations peacekeepers, though it is not clear when — or even if — that will happen. The deal was signed on Monday night in Djibouti, Somalia’s small, peaceful neighbor, which is considered neutral ground.

People on the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia’s battered capital, seemed doubtful and hopeful. “There could be fighting from the hard-liners, but it won’t be the same as it used to,” said Hassan Gabre, a retired engineer. Peace is important, but Somalis desperately need government, too, he said.
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Africa Horn
Somali Opposition Splits Amid Conflict
2008-05-30
Divisions within Somalia's Eritrea-based opposition group have turned into an open conflict amid reports the faction headed by hard-line Islamist leader Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys is seeking to remove moderate Islamist Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed as chairman. Aweys supporters say the move is in response to Ahmed's acceptance of U.N. efforts to initiate peace talks with Somalia's Ethiopia-backed interim government.

The deputy chairman of the Islamist-led opposition Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia, also known as ARS, tells VOA that he and many others in the group are supporting Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys' call to replace the current chairman. The deputy, Jamaa Mohamed Khalib, says Chairman Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed crossed the line when he sent a delegation to Djibouti earlier this month to participate in the U.N.-mediated peace talks, even though Ethiopia, which many Somalis view as an occupying power, has not withdrawn its troops from Somalia.

The pullout of Ethiopian troops had long been a key ARS condition for the start of any talks with Somalia's secular transitional federal government, which took power from the Islamists in late 2006 after a U.S.-supported Ethiopian military intervention.

Khalib says Ahmed had no right to begin negotiating openly without first forcing the Ethiopians to leave Somalia. Khalib says the opposition general assembly - made up of Islamists, former parliament members and members of the Somali diaspora - will vote on June 15 to remove Ahmed from his post.

Meanwhile, Ahmed and the leader of the ARS general assembly, Sharif Hassan Sheik Adan, are in Yemen, reportedly receiving advice from senior Yemeni officials about how best to proceed toward direct negotiations with the Somali government. Ahmed declined to speak to VOA about the growing rift within ARS, but earlier this week, Ahmed accused Eritrea of meddling in the group's affairs.

The two top Islamists in ARS, Ahmed and Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, had an uneasy alliance in the Islamic Courts Union before the movement was ousted after six months in power. The men fled to Eritrea, where they established the opposition group last September. From Asmara, the ARS has led a bloody 16-month, anti-Ethiopian, anti-government insurgency that has killed thousands of people and has displaced more than one million others.
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Africa Horn
Somali Islamists, opposition unite to fight government
2007-09-13
Somali opposition leaders announced an alliance with Islamic fighters Wednesday and vowed to "liberate the country through the barrel of the gun," raising the specter of more violence for the faction-riven Horn of Africa nation.

The new Alliance for the Liberation of Somalia was formed in Eritrea, archrival of Ethiopia, which has sent troops into Somalia to back the Somali government. The alliance gave Eritrean troops two weeks to withdraw. Zakariya Mohamud Haji Abdi, speaking by telephone from the Eritrean capital where Somali dissidents have been holding a six-day conference, said the Ethiopians faced "extinction" if they did not head the warning. "They occupy a large swathe of Somalia and it will be hard for them to escape from the Somalis if they are defeated. We offer them a safe access if they surrender now," Abdi said.

He said the new alliance would be led by a 191-member central council, representing the four parties that took place in the Eritrea conference — an Islamic group that controlled the Somali capital until being ousted by Ethiopian troops late last year; dissidents expelled from the Somali parliament; civil society figures; and expatriate Somalis. "The alliance has two wings, political and military," said Abdi. "The political wing will lobby for the ejection of the Ethiopians from Somalia while the military wing will liberate the country through the barrel of the gun."

Much of Somalia has been without a functioning government since 1991, when rival warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on each other. The current fragile government, which is backed by the U.N. and neighboring Ethiopia, has struggled to assert control and has been attacked by insurgents almost daily since December, when it toppled the Islamic group from power in Mogadishu and much of the south of the country.

Islamic fighters vowed to fight an Iraq-style insurgency and the U.N. says they are receiving weapons from Eritrea. On Saturday, a top U.S. official said that Eritrea could be added to a list of countries that sponsor terrorism, in part because Somali Islamic leader Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, who is on U.S. and U.N. lists of terrorism suspects, openly attended the dissidents' conference.

Fighting between the Islamic extremists and the transitional government is complicated by a web of clan loyalties. Many powerful Somali figures command their own private militias, with fighters who believe their leaders' alliances are more important than ideology. Thousands of civilians have been killed in fighting in the volatile south of the country and on Wednesday, UNICEF said thousands of children were severely malnourished and in urgent need of food aid. The country is deeply impoverished but aid groups say insecurity is hampering their operations.

The involvement of Eritrea and Ethiopia is a further complication. Eritrea fought a bloody war for independence from Ethiopia that ended in 1993 and another war over a border dispute from 1998-2000. Tensions between the two remain high, and they may see Somalia as a proxy battleground.

Abdi said Somalis were running out of patience with Ethiopian troops and may commit reprisals if they have the opportunity. "Ethiopians have massacred a lot of Somalis during their stay," he said. Human rights groups say that all sides routinely kill and maim civilians.
Link


Africa Horn
Mogadishu stunned by blasts despite curfew
2007-06-24
(SomaliNet) Around 11 bomb blasts have trembled overnight the Somalia’s volatile city Mogadishu despite curfew imposed by the national security commission to restore normalcy – there are no immediate casualties from the latest explosions. The explosions followed by gunfire happened in north and south of the capital but this morning the city was quiet as the Somali government troops along with the Ethiopian forces set up checkpoints in the main Mogadishu streets.

The latest violence came as the leader of the Shura council in the defeated Islamic Courts Union Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys supported what he called ‘the insurgency in the capital’ as legal force to face against both the transitional government and its allied forces of Ethiopia and Uganda.
He's supporting this from a safe distance, I presume.
Meanwhile, seven people have been killed and dozens more were wounded after clashes that turned from political to clan renewed in the Somalia’s southern port city of Kismayu between Majerteen and Marehan clans over the city’s control.
Link


Africa Horn
Shabab members arrested in Mogadishu
2007-06-10
(SomaliNet) Somalia transitional federal government claimed late Saturday that its forces arrested several members of Al-Shabab brigade which supports the ousted Islamic Courts Union.

In a news conference held today in Mogadishu, Mogadishu mayor, Mohamed Omar Habeb known as ‘Mohamed Dhere’ revealed that in today’s raids in parts of north Mogadishu, the forces captured 15 members of Al-Shabab which the US government says has links with Al-Qaeda network. “We arrested them in raids launched on an area near Al-Barakat cemetery in north of the capital, their main stronghold... they are alleged of terror crimes in Somalia and they are members of the international terror groups,” said Mohamed Dhere.

The detained Shabab men he said will go on trail. He also mentioned that the government forces seized a large number of weapons which belonged to the defeated ICU. “An arms cache was found inside the building of Telecom Somalia Company in Huriwa neighborhood, north of the city after the soldiers entered there,” said Mohamed Dhere adding that the forces having the backing of the Ethiopian troops also seized other arms hidden in a house owned by the leader of the Shura council of the ousted Islamic Courts Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys. But there is no independent source confirming the arrest of Shabab members and the seizure of the weapons.
Link


Arabia
Yemen prepared to grant top Somali Islamist asylum
2007-02-06
Yemen is prepared to grant political asylum to a top Somali Islamist leader, Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Kerbi said Monday, as other officials predicted that Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed could arrive within 24 hours. Speaking to reporters, al-Kerbi said that Sheik Ahmed "has not officially asked for asylum yet, but if he applies we will not abstain from accepting." Sheik Ahmed told The Associated Press last week he planned to leave Kenya, where he fled in January, soon, once he had received a formal invitation from the Yemeni government.

On Sunday, al-Kerbi met with the U.S. ambassador to Kenya and said they discussed the latest developments in Somalia and efforts being exerted to hold a reconciliation meeting. Sheik Ahmed is expected to arrive within the coming 24 hours, a foreign ministry official and a security official said.

Sheik Ahmed was the chairman of the Executive Council of Islamic Courts and shared the leadership with Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, who is a U.S. list of people with suspected ties to al-Qaida, though he has repeatedly denied having ties to international terrorists. Sheik Ahmed is not known to be wanted by U.S. authorities.
Link


Africa Horn
Somalia: Banditry insecurity rage in Mogadishu as Islamists leave
2006-12-29
(Sh.M.Network) - With Islamists entirely withdrawn from the capital Mogadishu, looters could be seen stealing Islamist reserved arms in their main headquarters in the northern part of the capital Mogadishu. The Union of Islamic Courts, which was militarily powerful and in firm control of the capital withdrew from Mogadishu late on Wednesday afternoon. It surrendered all battlewagons known as “technicals” back to local clans that gave their backing to Islamists in the first place.

The ICU chairman Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed accompanied by the consultative leaders Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys and Ibrahim Sulaey held a press conference in south of Mogadishu last night. Sheik Sharif who spoke at the news conference said he would call on the civilian population in Mogadishu to take care of the security in the capital and cooperate with Islamist forces that he said will secure the stability of the city. Islamist soldiers who retreated from their strongholds in southern and northern parts of the country which were immediately occupied by Ethiopian and pro-government troops, put off the military dresses mingling with the ordinary people.

Repeated gunshots could be heard in Mogadishu all last night. Clan militias have instantly taken over all Islamist positions, setting up checkpoints. At least six people were killed in separate areas in north Mogadishu. Residents in the capital are most fearful that the country may fall in to a similar anarchy and banditry back in 1991 when warlords overthrew former president Mohammed Siad Barre.

All prisoners in Islamist jails were released on Wednesday when Islamist have learnt it was time for them to give up.

Elders and the foresighted people in the capital called on the transitional government to do something about the escalating insecurity in Mogadishu. Somali premier Ali Mohammed Gedi told elders and scholars in Mogadishu that they should fortify the security in the capital until the government forces reach Mogadishu. Airports and the seaports in the capital halted operating in the past three days although many tribal militias were positioned business companies at the sea port to prevent looters form getting in.

Islamists lost all their strongholds in central and southern Somalia, including the capital Mogadishu, with the exception of the port city of Kismayu, 500 km south of Mogadishu.
Link


Africa Horn
Islamic Courts hang it up
2006-12-28
(SomaliNet) The top leaders of Islamic Courts Union in the capital have announced on Wednesday that they resigned and are ready to hand over the administration to the people in Mogadishu to avoid destruction and bloodshed in the city.
"We quit! We don't want to see our blood shed!"
After having crucial and urgent meeting tonight in the capital, the leaders of executive and Shura councils of Islamic Courts Union and deputy leader of executive council of ICU, Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed and Sheik Abdirahman Janaqow resigned and issued a joint press statement over the current situation in Somalia particular in Mogadishu. Sheik Janaqow read out the statement through the local media saying: “Since the Islamic Courts Union came to the power in Somalia, it did a lot of significant acts to the people, particular in terms of security, justice, country’s development, improving the inner and outside politics, reopening the air and sea ports and so on,” said in the statement.

The ICU said also in the press release that foreign powers have invaded the country therefore to avoid devastation and fighting inside the capital, the Islamic Courts Union now agreed on the following decisions:
1. It is national duty to protect the sovereignty and the integrity of Somalia and its people.

2. The ICU allows that Somalis should have the option to determine their future and would be ready for taking over the responsibility.

3. The Islamic Courts Union agreed not to allow anyone to create violence in Mogadishu and anybody that is found guilty would be brought before the law and would be taken for the suitable punishment according to the Islamic Sharia.

4. The ICU fighters are responsible for establishing the security and stability in the Somalia capital Mogadishu.

5. Lastly, the ICU is calling on all the Islamic fighters whereever they are in Somalia to secure the stability and get ready in the police stations and other security stations.
The Islamic officials in the capital stressed that it is shame and misfortune that Somalia will again loss their security and peace in which they were brought from starting village, town, city and to country.
Link


Africa Horn
Ethiopia making progress in Somalia fighting
2006-12-26
(SomaliNet) The Ethiopian backed government troops are on Monday reportedly moving towards Dinsor, a strategic town controlled by Islamic Courts Union in southwest Somalia. Witnesses say the fighting is now continuing near Dinsor town after the Islamic fighters were pushed back from the Idale front following seven days of heavy gun battle. The fighting is taking place in Rama-Addey village 45 km to Dinsor between Ethiopian forces along with the interim government troops and the Islamic Courts Union. Residents in Dinsor fear that the war might spread to their town with reports that people began fleeing as fighting nears.

In Daynunay area on the road between Baidoa city, the seat of the transitional federal government and Bur-Hakaba, a town controlled by ICU, the fighting is still going on with rivals using all sorts of weapons. Government official in Baidoa said that its troops have also made progress in the fighting continuing on Bur-Hakaba road, 180 km southwest of the capital. “We are in few kilometers to capture Bur-Hakaba,” he said.

Other developments say that the Ethiopian troops have taken control of Adado town in central Somalia where the Islamist militia deserted after facing bitter fighting. It the third town which the Islamic Courts Union lost in the clashes with the Ethiopian forces in Somalia a week ago.

Meanwhile, two senior Islamist officials have returned back to Somalia capital on Monday shortly after the air strike by the Ethiopian fighter jet which dropped two bombs on the main Mogadishu airport killing one female worker at the airport and wounding others. Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys and Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, the leaders of Shura and executive councils of ICU landed at the airport in time of tension. Both officials briefed reporters about their trips to abroad.

The Ethiopian war planes also hit Balidogle military airport just 100km southwest of Somalia capital targeting Islamist positions. Ethiopia said the air bombardment on Mogadishu main port was to prevent the military supply coming to Islamic Courts.
Link


Africa Horn
Somalia president scorns Islamic Courts as terror group
2006-12-25
(SomaliNet) Somalia’s interim president Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed has on Sunday officially opened a state-run radio that has gone on air today covering throughout Somalia, the information minister of the transitional Federal government Ali Ahmed Jama known as ‘Jangali’ said. The president, who addressed through the new government radio which is called ‘Bay Radio voice of Somalia republic, cast condemnations on Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, the leader of Islamic Courts Union narrating about what passed by describing him as a man who wrongly employs the Islamic religion as his will.

“In June 1992 Sheik Aweys came to Puntland regions and fought with my militia proclaiming for the Islamic religion sake but was exercising in clan system... it was widely known what happened to him, I kicked him off the region in my control,” Mr. Yusuf said in his opening address. “It is the fourth time that Aweys and his terrorist group attempt to engage war through Islam. He is a really a man of many shorts saying we are the right political part clamoring for outside terrorists in the country and that is in the interest of the Somalia people. These insurgents do not give care to whether all Somalia go to vanish or not, it is fact that the terrorist group is making life more difficult,” said president Yusuf.

He said he thinks that the Somali community is fully aware of what Aweys’s group holds has nothing to do with the public interest. “Now I am the president of Somalia and he is belonging to the international terrorists and he will lastly test the same defeat as faced earlier and flee,” Yusuf said.

Bay Radio Voice of Somalia republic can be heard through short waves (SW1- 49 band and SW2 – 41 band) and FM 95.2 Mz. Hassan Isse Ali known as ‘Korea’ was nominated for the general director of information ministry who had worked in Radio Mogadishu and Radio Hargeisa in 1980s.

Abdirahman Nor Mohamed Dinari, the government spokesman held today press conference inside Radio Bay station briefing about the battles in four fronts in Bay, Hiran and Mudug regions. He said the government forces crushed and burnt several war vehicles from what he called ‘The Islamist terrorists’ killing and injuring more insurgents. “Our troops have fully taken over the control of Beledwein in Hiran and Bandiredley in Mudug region,” Dinari said. Both rival sides are claiming victories over the latest clashes which entered the sixth day.
Link


Africa Horn
Somaliland: Islamic Courts leader acquitted of terror
2006-12-10
A judge in northern Somalia convicted nine people Saturday of crimes linked to plotting terrorist attacks against the breakaway republic of Somaliland, but acquitted the Islamic Courts' top leader and one other, an official said. Regional court judge Abdirahman Gama Ayan ordered the nine people convicted to serve prison sentences of between 20 and 25 years, Somaliland's presidential spokesman Abdi Idiris Dualeh said by telephone from the region's capital, Hargeisa.

Aran cleared Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, the leader of the Council of Islamic Courts that control much of southern Somalia, and the Islamic Courts' military commander Aden Hashi Ayro, saying there was not enough evidence to convict them of plotting terrorist acts in September and October 2005, Du'aleh said.

Among those sentenced to 25 years in prison was a prominent Somaliland Islamic leader, Sheik Mohamed Ismail, who was convicted of crimes linked to terrorism, smuggling illegal weapons and explosives, said Ismail Mohamed, who listened to the court's verdict.
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