The yesterday's meeting by the leaders of most radical Islamic groups in Afgoye
town, 30km south of the capital Mogadishu was a crucial session of setting up more intentionally military scenario to finally topple what they call 'the puppet
government' led by Sharif Sheik Ahmed who was once one of their companion during the six month Islamic rule in 2006 before being driven out of the country by the Ethiopia forces backing the weak government of Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed.
The meeting, which took place under the fruit trees of Sheik Sayid farm in Afgoye town, was attended by senior Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam leaders where they had
discussed thier future plans including forming a strong Islamic organization which
combines the different factions with single leadership and the military tactics to
root out the current government.
Soon after the meeting, Hassan Turki, who is on the American list of terrorists, and
father of Mujahideens that came from the southern remote jungle of Somalia bordering
with Kenya where is the base of militants, arranged hundreds of his men and launched
an attack on Jowhar, which is the remaining town under the control of Islamic Courts
Union supporting the transitional government.
With the help of Al-Shabab fighters from the northern direction and two hours of
deadly ground battle at the town's outskirts, Hassan Turki, dubbed 'the man of the
jungle' and his militia took Jowhar as the ICU forces abandoned the area to unknown
destination - the rebel's seizure of Jowhar is severe blow to the five-old-month
feeble government of Sharif Sheik Ahmed.
Jowhar, which is some 90km north of the capital, is strategically important to the
connection of Mogadishu and the central provinces and is one of the main breadbasket
in Somalia. in 2005, it was the temporary seat of former Yusuf's government which
split into two parts following inner difference that eventually had been solved and
relocated in Baidoa now strong-hold of Al-Shabab militants.
In the week long battles raged in the capital, the government lost key positions and
its troops gathered in three angle zone in the city with the support of the African
Union peacekeepers. the involvement of the foreign jihadists linking to Al-Qaeda in
Somalia war has immediately drawn the eyes of the Western powers as the US
government expressed its deep concern over the Al-Qaeda presence in the horn of
African nation as a real major security threat in the region.
Despite the swift military advance of the rebel Islamists towards their goal of
gaining the total control of Mogadishu, there could be strong defense lines put up
by the heavily armed African Union troops and the allied Islamists will be hardly
crossing that barrier to assure their last acheivement. before that there will be
possibilities of US air strikes on the militants bases in the capital if it appears
to be reaching to the key government positions like the presidential palace, airport
and seaport as this is the only expectancy of the leaning government to secure its
legacy.
As retreating back to its last trench, the government vowed to clear the rebel
groups out of the country within ten days so the government's reliance on such force
will defintely be recieved from outside powers amid the US and UN promises to help
the legitimate government defeat its rival.
Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, the founder of the Islamic Courts Union, whose ambition is
to introduce Taliban style Islamic state in Somalia, told the local media on Friday,
May 15 that he returned to the country to combine the insurgents in one leadership,
to pull the African troops out of the country through fighting and to solve all the
differences among Somalis.
Some critics say Sheik Aweys seem to be power hungry man who is willing to be the
president of Somalia by all means and see Mr. Ahmed as a simple man who sat on the
leadership seat without long struggle.
The belligerent armed militias battling against the government are trying hard to
oust the government but they seem to be less unified as long as a strategic alliance
is concerned, Hisbul islam and Al-shabab are loosely related entities, both islamist
factions are united only to fight against the government but seems that if they
succeed to overthrow the goverment they would be pitted against each other.
Source: Waagacusub Media
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