Somali Islamist groups clashed over control of Kismayo

October 4, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) – Two allied Islamist rebel groups clashed this week over the control of Kismayo, 300 klm south of Mogadishu.

Al-Shebab and Hizb Al-Islam fighters seized the southern Somalia port last August, the two rebel groups had agreed to share power in Kismayo, each governs for six months alternatively.
However the rotation between the two allies failed when Al Shebab refused to hand over the administration to Hizb Al-islam.

The fierce fighting began when Al-Shebab attacked a Hizb Al-islam controlled village, Jana Abdalla west of Kismayo last Thursday. Reports from the area says 40 people were killed form both sides.

Bur a Hizb Al-Islam official said only five Shebab and three from his faction were killed. He also affirmed they repelled the well organized assailants but added they expect a new attack on Monday.

Leaders of the two rebel factions met near Mogadishu to settle the conflict but they failed to reach an agreement.

Residents said the fighting was intense and no casualties have been reported yet. The leaders of Hizbul Islam and al Shabaab had a closed door meeting in Ealaha Biyaha Village outside Mogadishu to talk about the latest fighting occurred in the port town of Kismayo.

Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, the leader of Hizbul Islam and Sheik Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr, the Emir of al Shabaab discussed about the tension and the wars erupted between the two allied groups, but sources say they disagreed over some issues.

Al-Shebab is a hard-line organization that fought against the Ethiopian troops in the past, is suspected of being linked to Al-Qaeda it is headed by Sheik Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr.

Hezb al-Islam is a more political organization headed by Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, a former ally of Sharif’s in the Islamic Courts Union.

(ST)