explores one group, the pro-government Sufi militia, Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamma (ASWJ).
History of Sufism
Sufism
is a mystical Islamic sect with a considerable number of adherents in
Somalia. Adherents seek to distance themselves from the material world
and in that manner connect with their creator. In Somalia, the sect's
presence goes as far back as the 15th century.
The Sufi sect gained respect in Somalia because they were solely devoted
to the teaching and spreading of Islam in the country. They did not
have any role to play in the country’s political state and maintained a
low economic status. ASWJ is mainly composed of the Sufi ulumas (scholars) who were the former religious leaders of Somalia.
The Creation of ASWJ
The ASWJ as an armed political movement was first established in 2008
when they engaged in face-to-face fighting with al-Shabaab militia in
Gureil district of Galgadud region in central Somalia. According to
information provided by ASWJ leadership, the fighting was caused by
three main issues:
• Senior members of ASWJ were arrested by al-Shabaab in Galgadud • Al-Shabaab gave them an ultimatum of 42 days to join their group and adopt their beliefs and ideologies
• Al-Shabaab banned ASWJ from celebrating the Mowlid festival which is the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad
Faced by these challenges, the ASWJ held a series of meeting in all
districts of Galgadud region which is traditionally an ASWJ stronghold
and decided to fight al-Shabaab. They also formed several committees
which included the interim mobilization committee, finance committee and
military committee. Before the completion of these meetings, ASWJ and
al-Shabaab conflict began in Guriel district on 27th December 2008. A
battle occurred when al-Shabaab attacked a mosque and attempted to
arrest a high profile ASWJ cleric. This provoked a full scale war after
ASWJ received additional reinforcement from the other districts in the
region like Abudwak, Balanbale and Herale, according to the ASWJ
spokesmen Mohamed Hussien Abukar (Awliyo) and the chairman of ASWJ in
southern Somalia Mohamed Mohamud Yusuf Aw-libah.
ASWJ's reinforcement militia were organised within a short period and
they were mainly scholars, teachers in the Koranic schools, and
loyalists of ASWJ in Abudwak, Balanbale and Herale, as explained by both
Awlibah and Awliyo. The fighting later spread to other districts under
the al-Shabaab administration in Galgadud which forced al-Shabaab to
leave the major districts in the region; as a result, the ASWJ gained
strong public support. Similar activities had also started in the south
of the country like Gedo region and Banadir, hence ASWJ became the first
organised Somali group to defeat al-Shabaab.
ASWJ as a Political Faction
ASWJ was first recognised as a legitimate political movement in Somalia
in 2010 when they struck a power sharing deal facilitated by the
Ethiopian government in Addis Ababa with the TFG. The agreement stated
that 39 ASWJ representatives would be in the TFG. Six were to be part of
the cabinet, 10 in the military and the rest were to occupy other
sectors of the government. However ASWJ was not satisfied with how the
power sharing deal was implemented. Only one member from ASWJ was
appointed in the cabinet while five others were spread out in the
military, according to Awlibah. Speaking to terror free Somalia Awlibah accused the TFG of failing to implement the Addis Ababa agreement.
As ASWJ largely limited their presence and consolidated their power
in the central regions and some parts of southern Somalia, they have
gained a political legitimacy both in Somalia and the international
community. ASWJ attended and the London conference and also the Garowe OneTwo in which they played the crucial role of uplifting their status as a political organization.
Gado region,Areas Controlled by ASWJ
ASWJ generally controls all of Galgadud region except Adado district and is seeking to rid the area of TFG officials. They also control some parts of Hiran region and have a presence in Mogadishu but do not control specific areas in the capital. In Gedo region, ASWJ controls four districts, as illustrated in the map, with TFG forces.
Who Funds the ASWJ?
Most of the ASWJ funded by contributions from the Somali Diaspora and
the local community, according to Sharif Abdiwahid Sharif Aden, the
spokesman of ASWJ in southern Somalia, who spoke to Somalia Report.
ASWJ also collects revenue in areas they control which they use for
salaries and logistical operations costs of their soldiers. Other
sources close to ASWJ leadership state that they sometimes receive
logistical support from the Ethiopian government. Most of their leaders
work voluntary and are not paid. Somalia Report communicated
with several ASWJ leaders in order to get the total amount of funds
received by ASWJ annually, but none were able to provide an accurate
amount.
Leadership Struggles
After ASWJ took over the administration of most of Galgadud region, they
elected Sheikh Mohamud Ma’alin Hassan as their leader. A few months
later Sheikh Mohamud left after a misunderstanding and was replaced by
Yusuf Mohamed Hefow. By mid-2011, serious disagreements overshadowed the
ASWJ leadership in central Somalia and was based on clan power sharing.
The Marehan, Ayr and Dir clan within ASWJ have support in Galgadud.
In 2011 Sheikh Ibrahim Hassan Gureye, an active ASWJ member in Abudwak,
declared himself the official and legitimate ASWJ leader in central
Somalia. This widened rifts among the ASWJ senior officials as suspicion
and mistrust grew. When the Marehan militias withdrew from the
frontlines in Abudwak, Balanbale and Dhabat, the group was well on its
way to complete collapse. With the looming threat posed by al-Shabaab,
Ethiopia stepped in and began mediation between the tribal factions of
ASWJ. Negotiation meetings were held in Abduwak where the group's
current chairman Hirsi Hilowle (Laba Gare) was elected.
Similar power struggles existed in the south. Today, it is still not
clear who is the real ASWJ chairman for the southern Somalia. Both
Aw-libah and Aidurus Said Ahmed claim the chairmanship. ASWJ in Banadir
are an independent group who have looser ties to the TFG in comparison
with ASWJ in the south. The ASWJ in Galgadud, Banadir and southern
Somalia share a common ASWJ title but do not share a partnering policy
which defines how they should work together.
Current Leaders of ASWJ
Ahmed Shiekh Adan (Shuqul)
Chairman ASWJ
in Mogadishu (Banadir)
Birth: 1965
Place of Birth: Moagadishu
Clan: Shiekhal
Citizenship: Somali
Mohamed Mohamud Yusuf (Aw-libah)
Chairman ASWJ
in Southern Somalia
Date of Birth: 1962
Place of Birth: Garbaharey, Gedo region
Clan: Marehan, Sub-clan of Darod
Citizenship: Somali
For our interview with Aw-libah, please click here.
Aidurus Sayid Ahmed
Chairman of ASWJ in Southern Somalia
Birth: 18 October 1969
Place of Birth: Sarinley Gedo Region
Clan: Marehan, sub-clan of Darod
Hirsi Aw-Mohamed Hilowle
Chairman of ASWJ in Galgadud region
Birth: 1962
Place of birth: Mogadishu
Clan: Marehan Sub-clan of Darod
Citizenship: Australian
Sharif Abdiwahid Sharif Adan (Hilalu Ahmar)
Spokesman of ASWJ in Southern Somalia
Birth: 1975
Place of Birth: Luq Gedo Region
Clan: Asharaf
Citizenship: Somali
Mohamed Hussein Abukar
Spokesman and Representative in Europe
Birth: January 1967
Place of Birth: Hargaysa
Clan: Dir
Citizenship: UK
Yusuf Mohamed Hefow
Title: Executive committee chairman
Birth: 1958
Place of Birth: Beledweyn
Clan: Hawiye, sub-clan, Ceyr
Citizenship: Somali
Sheikh Abdulkadir Sheikh Mohamed (Ooomoow)
Title: the speaker of superior council of ASWJ
Date of birth: 1964
Place of birth: Biyocadde, Middle Shebelle region
Citizenship: Somali
Clan: Abgal, Sub-clan of Hawiye
With TFG
According to information provided by Mohamed Hussein Abukar Awliyo,
the spokesman of ASWJ, the TFG and ASWJ are not on good terms. Mr Awliyo
expressed is frustration with the TFG's acknowledgment of the
advancement made by the ASWJ forces in the different frontlines. He also
accused the TFG of supporting and creating local regional
administrations in areas controlled by ASWJ in an attempt to eliminate
them. The recent visit by the Somalia head of state to Adado district
controlled by Himin and Heb administration and his failure to officially
visit ASWJ controlled areas, indicates the failing relations between
the TFG and ASWJ according to Awliyo.
With Ethiopia and UNPOS
Ethiopia, which worked with the ASWJ to take control of key towns in Galgadud
in March of this year, is not willing to allow Somalia to recover and
govern itself again and western countries are destroying Somalia,
according to the spokesman.
The United Nations Political Office (UNPOS) for Somalia and the
Ethiopian government harbour plans to destroy ASWJ by creating local and
regional administrations in Galgadud. They are backing new leaders like
Ahmed Abdisalan the former deputy prime minister in order to eliminate ASWJ leadership structures as explained by Awliyo.
"They are providing a lot of resources to the TFG. It is led by Sharif
Sheikh Ahmed. A few years ago he was bombing and terrorising the local
communities in Somalia, yet they allowed him to be the leader of
Somalia. This is clear indication that they do not want peace for this
country again. Now they are trying to negotiate with al-Shabaab," said
Awliyo.
"We met with the officials from the American embassy in Nairobi several
times and also other western embassies and asked them for help but they
told us to create a regional authority if we want funds. It is clear to
us that they do not want to work with us because of our religious
affiliations and name. They also want to put us in total political
isolation," he explained.
The Future of ASWJ
Reports provided by the chairman of ASWJ in southern Somalia indicate
that ASWJ will become an unarmed political organization after 2012 when
the transitional period comes to an end. At that time, ASWJ militias
will become part of the Somalia national forces. The chairman stated
that they shared this with the international community who accepted the
proposal. ASWJ website
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