Somali Islamist groups to join forces

First Published: 2010-12-20

Fighters from Hezb al-Islam join ranks of Shebab militants to battle against forces of Somali transitional government.

Middle East Online

Double trouble for the transitional government MOGADISHU - War-ravaged Somalia's two major Islamist movements have ended their rivalry and merged their military forces, a leader of one of the groups told AFP on Sunday. Fighters from Hezb al-Islam joined the ranks of Al Qaeda-linked Shebab militants battling against African Union-backed forces of the fragile transitional government, according to witness reports. "We have decided to rejoin the Shebab and dissolve Hezb al-Islam. I can tell you from today (Sunday) our group, including the highest commanders, will become members of the Shebab," said Mohamed Osman Arus, a Hezb al-Islam spokesman. The spokesman said the agreement was reached after talks between leaders of the groups, following several weeks of tension which included the Shebab forcibly taking a town held by Hezb al-Islam. Islamist fighters control much of central and southern Somalia. The transitional government says it controls more than half of the capital Mogadishu, but swathes remain no-go areas controlled by the Shebab. No leaders of the Shebab could be reached to confirm the agreement with Hezb al-Islam.