Hizbul Islam

Somali Civil War
Hizbul Islam
Leaders	Omar Iman (Feb 7-May 26, 2009) Hassan Aweys (May 26, 2009-Dec 20, 2010)
Clans/Tribes:	Mainly Marehan and Darod
Years active:	January 2009–December 2010
Headquarters:	Kismayo (January 2009-October 2009) Afgooye (October 2009-December 2010)
Operating Areas:	Southern and Central Somalia
Ideology:	Militant Islam, Sunni Islamism, Somali nationalism
Strength:	Unknown
Preceded by:	Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia; Jabhatul Islamiya; Mu'askar Ras Kamboni; Muaskar Anole
Succeeded by:	al-Shabaab
Allies:	al-Shabaab, Foreign Mujahedeen
Opponents:	Transitional Federal Government AMISOM al-Shabaab

Hizbul Islam ("Islamic Party"), also known as Hizbul Islaami, Hisbi Islam, or Hezb-ul Islam was a Somali Islamists insurgent group. It was formed after four Islamist groups merged to fight the new Somali government of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. The four groups were: Hassan Aweys' ARS-A, Jabhatul Islamiya ("Islamic Front"), Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki's Mu'askar Ras Kamboni (Ras Kamboni Brigade) and Muaskar Anole, the Harti clan's militia. These groups previously took part in the Islamist Insurgency against Ethiopia and the TFG. On December 20, 2010 they merged with Al-Shabaab, retaining the name 'Al-Shabaab'. Ali Yassin Mohamed was also among the group's founders. On 7 February 2009, they announced they would continue fighting the new government led by President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed and the African Union forces in Mogadishu. Omar Iman, who was the group's charman at the time, said "The so-called government led by Sharif Sheik Ahmed is not different from the one of Abdulahi Yusuf" and that they would continue the holy war (Jihad).

On 28 February, it appeared that Hizbul Islam would sign a ceasefire with the Transitional Federal Government. However, by 1 March it was clear that no ceasefire would be given, despite President Sharif Ahmed having agreed to proposals for a truce and having offered to accept the implementation of Sharia Law.

Sheikh Omar Iman Abubakar, a high ranking official of the Eritrean based faction of the Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia, was initially appointed as the group's chairman. He, however, later resigned for Sheikh Aweys to take his position. On December 20, 2010, Hizbul Islam was disbanded as Sheikh Aweys surrendered to al-Shabaab and agreed to merge the two groups.

The group had been compared to the Taliban of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

First internal power struggle (24 March – 26 May 2009)

On 24 March, there was reported to be a power struggle in the Hizbul Islam faction as a group claiming to represent Hizbul Islam held a press conference in Mogadishu that Omar Iman was no longer the Chairman of the group and that he had been replaced by Sheikh Mohamed Hassan Ahmed, another Islamic cleric. The press conference was attended by several important members of Hizbul Islam, most notably the notorious ex-warlord Yusuf Mohammed Siad Inda'ade (Indho Ade). Sheik Da'ud Mohamed Abtidon, who claimed to be the new spokesman for the group accused Omar Iman of refusing to accept the Islamic scholars' calls for a ceasefire, in return for AMISOM withdraw. Indho Ade was quoted as saying "The group [Hizbul Islam] has agreed to remove Sheikh Omar Iman since he made a mistake and violated the group's laws." Sheikh Mohamed Hassan Ahmed declared cease-fire and entered negotiations for implemention of Sharia Law and AMISOM withdraw in return for joining with the government.

However, Hassan Dahir Aweys, the group's most powerful figure, rejected the claims made by Indo Ade that Sheikh Omar Iman had been removed as chairman. He was quoted as saying "No one can take authority away from Sheikh Omar Iman, because the group [Hizbul Islam] appointed him as chairman." Aweys said that Indo Ade and the others from the press conference should form their own group instead of doing what he described as "trying to destroy Hizbul Islam. Prior to this Sheikh Omar Iman had denied that Indho Ade was the group's defence secretary.

This has led to Hizbul Islami dividing in two, with one group led by Indho Ade and the other led by Hassan Aweys (with Omar Iman as chairman).

21 April 2009, Anole and the Ras Kamboni brigades fought each other in a village called Abdalla Birole, which lies 40 km west of Kismayo. This happened after Anole fighters invaded a village called Bulo Haji, while Ras Kamboni Brigade fighters arrived in Abdalla Birole and they clashed. The situation in the two villages was said to be tense, 4 people were killed and 7 injured during the fighting.

4 May 2009, al-Shabaab and members of the main faction of Hizbul Islam, led by Hassan Aweys and Omar Iman, attacked a base used by Indho Ade's group of Hizbul Islam. Indho Ade's lieutenants claimed that al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam trying to expand territory into areas under the control of Indho Ade's milita.

12 May 2009, Indho Ade handed over his arms to Sheikh Aweys, ending the groups division. However, soon after, he defected to the government.

26 May, Omar Iman Abubakr stepped down as chairman and handed over his position to Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, who was already the most powerful figure in the group.

War with al-Shabaab, new internal division and end of the organisation (1 October 2009-20 December 2010)

On 1 October 2009, armed conflict between Hizbul Islam and al-Shabaab began in a dispute between the a faction of the Ras Kamboni Brigades and al-Shabaab over who was in charge of Kisimayo. ARS-A and JABISO, which were alligned with al-Shabaab in Hiran and Mogadishu refused to support the Ras Kamboni Brigades, meanwhile Anole remained neutral. It also led to a split within the Ras Kamboni Brigades, with a faction led by Ahmed "Madoobe" starting the war against al-Shabaab and a faction led by Hassan "Turki" siding with al-Shabaab. The battle of Kisimayo was decisively won by al-Shabaab which expelled Madbobe's Ras Kamboni Brigade forces from the city. In the battles that followed, in November 2009, Madobe's forces were overpowered by al-Shabaab and local allies and forced to withdraw from the Lower Jubba region and most of Southern Somalia. In February 2010, al-Turki's branch declared a merge with al-Shabaab.

In early 2010 the two groups clashed in Hiran region, in central Somalia. The battle was won by al-Shabaab which took control of the region. In late 2010 Hizbul Islam were expelled from Bay region as well, after al-Shabaab seized control of Bur Hakab. Soon after Hizbul Islam was forced to surrender Luq town to al-Shabaab after which it was announced that Hizbul Islam would merge with al-Shabaab. From mid-December al-Shabaab fighters started taking over Hizbul Islam positions. On December 20, Hizbul Islam officially surrendered to al-Shabaab and the merge was confirmed by Hizbul Islam chairman Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys and official spokesman Sheikh Mohammad Osman Arus.[23]

Leadership

• Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys - Leader of the Asmara based wing of the ARS and chairman of the group.
• Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islaan "Madoobe" - Leader of Ras Kamboni faction that stayed in Hizbul Islam.
• Sheikh Mohamed Ibrahim Hayle - Leader of Jabhatul Islamiya (JABISO).
• Mukhtar Abu Ali Aisha - The Leader of Mu'askar Anole

Former leaders

• Sheikh Omar Iman Abubakar - Chairman of Hizbul Islam until 26 May 2009 when he stepped down, handing over his position to Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys.
• Sheikh Yusuf Mohammed Siad Inda'ade - A powerful warlord leading figure in the Asmara based branch of the ARS until 17 May 2009, when he defected to the government.
• Sheikh Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki - Leader of the Ras Kamboni Brigade which defected to Al-Shabaab.

See also

• Advance of the Islamic Courts Union
• al-Itihaad al-Islamiya
• al-Shabaab (Somalia)
• Islamic Courts Union
• War in Somalia (2006–2009)
• War in Somalia (2009–)

References

[23]