Somali government and Islamic traditional group to join hands against radical militias
February 20, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) — Somali Transitional Government has signed an agreement with a traditional Islamic group in a bid to create an alliance with factions opposed to the extremist militias before to launch a nationwide offensive against these radical groups.
Despite its formation since 2008, the UN backed government led by President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has failed to extend its control on the major part of the war-torn country. Al-Shebab radical militia controls some 80% of southern and central Somalia while the government exercises its authority on small area of the capital.
Sherif Hassan Sheik Aden, Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister, and Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa’s leader Sheikh Mahamoud Sheikh Ahmed agreed Saturday to join hands in fighting extremism following more than a week talks held in the Ethiopian capital.
“Both parties have agreed to mobilize Somalis inside and outside the country to fight jointly against the onslaught of extremism, to preserve Somali tradition and custom,” the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry said in a statement put out on Saturday.
“Both sides will now take the agreement back to their respective constituencies and carry out extensive discussions. The final agreement will be signed during the first week of March,” it added.
Under the agreement, a national panel of ulemas, or Muslim scholars, will be formed to come up with a framework to “protect and preserve the traditional Somali Islamic faith”, the statement pointed out.
Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa, which is seen as traditional Sufi group, accused Al-Shebab of harassing their members and destroying the tomb of revered sheiks notably in and around the southern Somali city of Kismayo.
At the end of December 2008, the group clashed with the hard-line Al-Shebab in the town of Guriel, a trading town in central Somalia, 370 km north of Mogadishu, over the control of the area.
Washington says Al-Shebab have close ties with Al-Qaeda terror group of Osama bin Laden.
(ST)
Time1
Somali government and Islamic traditional group to join hands against radical militias
Somalis need to come to their sense and talk to eachother, that is the only way forward, war will never solve their problem or end their suffering, they will only be exploited by foreign forces if they continue to fight themselves.