There are reports today that Hizbul Islam, one of the extremist factions allied with Al-Shabaab is quitting its alliance it has had with Al-Shabaab.
A spokesman, Mohamed Moallin, announced that Hizbul Islam was leaving Al-Shabaab because "Al-Shabaab fighters are no different than unbelievers" and that "Al-Shabaab has misinterpreted Islam".
The spokesman said Hizbul Islam was ready to hold talks with the new Somali government, if the government was ready to be "an Islamic government".
Hizbul Islam merged its forces with Al-Shabaab in late 2010.
The leader of Hizbul Islam, Sheikh Hassan Dahir ‘Aweys’, who was appointed military commander for southern Somalia for Al-Shabaab last year, but he later said that Hizbul Islam did not welcome Al-Shabaab’s links with al-Qaeda. He later announced his disagreement with Al-Shabaab over the killing civilians.
Reports quoted Sheikh ‘Aweys’ in March 2012 as saying: “I warn my jihadist brothers in Al-Shabaab against [spilling] the blood of the Somali nation and killing innocent civilians in the name of Islam."
In recent weeks, following the loss of towns and bases to AMISOM and Somali Government forces, increasing numbers of Al-Shabaab fighters have been surrendering. Last weekend over 250 surrendered at Jowhar after internal clashes with another extremist group in which several Al-Shabaab including two commanders were killed.
Other fighters have been quietly returning into their communities to lead a normal life with some, particularly the foreign fighters who had been in its last stronghold, Kismayo, reportedly fleeing the country.
The announcement by Hizbul Islam, if confirmed, would be another serious problem for Al-Shabaab, already threatened by substantial defections and under severe military and political pressure from AMISOM and the new Somali government.
Equally, the comment that Hizbul Islam was ready to talk only if the new government should be Islamic, suggests that it has not moderated its extremism, even if it has split from Al-Shabaab.
Many have been concerned by efforts to bring extremist elements into the peace process in case their inclusion might derail a peace process which has been making considerable progress, not least with the adoption of a new constitution, founded on Sharia law, the successful end to the Transition and the successful choice of members of parliament, the election of a Speaker and of the election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, inaugurated on Sunday, September 16th.
Source: MFA – Sept. 25, 2012.
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