Mareeg Online: Islamist group merges al Shabaab
Raskamboni Islamist group has merged with al Shabaab after long discussions between the officials of the two groups, officials said on Monday.
Raskamboni brigades led by hardline, ailing cleric ,Sheikh Hassan Abdullahi Hersi better known as “Turki”, declared Monday they formally joined to al Shababaab.
Long discussions between the leaders of the two groups have been going on in Baidoa, a one time seat of the Somali parliament before al Shabaab captured it late in 2008.
A ceremony attended by Hassan Turki and al Shabaab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane also known as Sheikh Muqtar Abu Zubeyr was held in Baidoa.
Sheikh Fu’ad Mohamed Qalaf, a high official from al Shabaab read a communiqué which said the two groups decided to unite under the name of al Shabaab.
The articles produced from the meeting also included an Islamic government which the group intends to form in the country.
Garowe Online adds
"In this agreement, we intent to invite other groups in the Hizbul Islam and make our war, a global jihad," said Al Shabaab member Sheikh Fu’ad Mohammed Khalaf, who spoke at the ceremony.
He added that the unification of the two forces is to form an Islamic state in Somalia and also liberate the East African region from the ‘Christian rulers’
Sheikh Mohammed Dulyaden, a Raskamboni commander, said his group is ready to take a crucial part in making sure that an Islamic state is realized in Somalia.
The remaining leaders of Hizbul Islam, which has been in loggerheads with Al-Shabaab are yet to comment about the latest development that will have huge impact on its rule in the southern Somalia.
Other than the Ras Kamboni Brigade's violent conflict with Harakat al-Shabaab Mujahideen over the governance of Kismayo last year, where he openly refused to recognize the latters authority, Turki has been quiet for some time now, with a few reports that he has been quite ill and others placing him in various efforts to strike consensus among insurgent factions and mend relations b/w H.S.M. and the Hisbul Islam alliance. Similar efforts have been attributed to Sh. Aweys, whom all eyes are now turned, awaiting a response to this news.
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Shabelle Media: ‘Deputy leader of Hizbul Islam joined to Al-shabab’: Sheik Aweys
Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, The Islamist leader of Hizbul Islam organization has Tuesday held press conference in the Somali capital Mogadishu and confirmed that the deputy leader of the group had formally joined to Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen.
Sheik Hassan told reporters that Sheik Hassan Abdullahi Hersi better known as ( Hassan Turkey) had joined to the Islamic administration of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen pointing out that they were very sorry for the violation a rule between the two sides.
The leader said that there was a law between the two sides Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen and Hizbul Islam organization which was not to take fighters from each other pointing out that Al-shabab had violated the law.
Also, Sh. Madobe had denied that all of the Ras Kamboni Brigade had joined H.S.M.
Mareeg Online: Islamist leader denies his group joined al Shabaab
Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam a leader of Raskamboni brigades denied that his group joined al Shabaab on Tuesday.
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Sheik Ahmed Madobe said that Sheik Hassan Turki was .. sick and was not serving any post for Rakanboni stressing that the group was an independent organization that has no relation to any of the other groups in the country.
SMC has a longer quote from Madobe:
“Raskmaboni is a fugitive faction I am sure that collusion between the two parts will have no impact on us, and I [am] sure we shall win over them, and I am frankly telling you that Sheikh Hassan Turkey is currently ailing person, and he is not as vivid as he used to be once, indeed he is a respected man in the framework of the Islamists but I am telling you he is inactive” said Ahmed Maodobe a senior officer in Hizbul-Islam speaking to Somaliweyn website.
Garowe Online sheds more light on the Sh. Awey's press conference than the earlier, short Shabelle Media report did
Hizbul Islam rebel chief critical of Al Shabaab move
The leader of Somalia’s Hizbul Islam group, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys has refutted claims that one of the coalition partners has ditched to Al-Shabaab.
Sheikh Aweys who addressed reporters in Mogadishu on Tuesday said that he received information of his deputy Sheikh Hassan Abdullahi Al-Turki joining Al-Shabaab but refuted that Turki led his own Raskamboni Brigade to the rebel group.
“Sheikh Turki has joined Al-Shabaab but that does not mean Raskamboni has indeed joined our brothers Al-Shabaab,” he said, adding that Al-Shabaab has violated an agreement between the two groups by convincing the fighters of his group join to them.
His sentiments were ochoed by two other Hizbul Islam officials who said that
“We, as a group, were not involved anyway with the Baidoa agreement. We are telling Somalis that we are still part of Hizbul Islam,” said Barre Ali Barre, an official who spoke for Raskamboni.
Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Islam ‘Madobe’ who is a top Hizbul Islam official said there is animosity between the two groups and that there will be not agreement, vowing to fight anyone who joins Al-Shabaab.
“Al-Shabaab and us are enemies and we don’t have any relationship whatsoever apart from war and I am telling you that whoever joins Al-Shabaab, we will also fight him,” he said, adding that the decision by Sheikh Turki was insane.
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Shabelle Media article has more quotes from Sh. Aweys's press conference on Tuesday
Islamist leader censures Al-Shabab over recent merger
Aweys today held a news conference in Mogadishu while dressed in combat uniform and confirmed that Hisb al-Islam's deputy chairman and other senior officials of the group have joined the movement for the Al-Shabab Mujahidin.
Aweys has dismissed reports indicating that the Raas Kaambooni group, which is among four armed opposition groups that merged to form Hisb al-Islam last year, has now defected to Al-Shabab. The Hisb al-Islam leader said some of those that have joined Al-Shabab had left their party some time back.
"We want to shed some light on an issue in which some men in Al-Shabab and others who claimed to be representatives of Raas Kaambooni yesterday issued a statement in Baydhabo. First of all, Muslims have an obligation to unite and I, the leader of Hisb al-Islam, was personally among those that have been pursuing the idea," said Aweys.
Aweys has said the movement for the Al-Shabab Mujahidin has failed to honour agreements reached with Hisb al-Islam earlier on in which both groups agreed not to persuade fighters on either side to join the other.
"As for our Al-Shabab brothers, there was an issue we had earlier on discussed in which we agreed not to rob each other of people. We are very disappointed that our brothers have decided to go against it," said Aweys.
The Hisb al-Islam leader also spoke on organized killings targeting Hisb al-Islam leaders and fighting between his group and the movement for the Al-Shabab Mujahidin in parts of Jubba Regions [southern Somalia].
"As two groups that are engaged in the same operation, there is a scuffle and that is to be expected. It is nothing more than the ordinary. Individuals do switch between group, some come here, others go there and it is not a big deal, it will be resolved and we want to resolve it. The areas that have been captured [from Hisb al-Islam] are of also no consequence. Most of us share the same belief and are on the same page on issues. This clumsiness will continue to exist until we all unite. There will be clashes and all of this is to be expected religious wise and we know what the solution is. Some of the issues have been resolved and the rest will be resolved soon God willing," said the Hisb al-Islam leader.
Aweys also spoke on Hisb al-Islam's view of Al-Qai'dah's operations in various countries across the world.
"Al-Qai'dah are Muslims who are angered by the international fight against Muslims. They have waged a battle against it and wherever it may lead to, they are still continuing. We also continue with the fighting wherever it may lead to. If Allah unites us as Muslims, then thank God," said the Hisb al-Islam chairman.
There was a flurry of stories following Monday's announced alliance reporting that H.S.M. for the first time openly declared its affiliation w/ al-Qai'dah at their press conference. It remains unclear how much of that is disinformation.
For instance, The Long War Journal has published what it reports as "a translation of the statement released on the Al Qimmah Forum" which reads
"We hereby state that the two mujahideen brother [groups] have agreed:"
"1. To unite the mujahideen of the two groups.
2. To seek to unify Muslims, especially the mujahideen who still remain out of the merger. We want them to join the mujahideen merger, and Allah will guarantee it.
3. To embark upon the establishment of an Islamic government that implements the law of Allah.
4. To support Muslims, particularly the Muslim people of east and the Horn of Africa living under enemy Christians who are the majority.
5. In order to restore the Muslims' damaged honor, political power, economic power, and military power, Muslims of the east and the Horn of Africa should be united and hostilities the colonizer has fomented among Muslims of this region be brought to an end.
6. To counter the international crusaders' war against Muslims and to combine the jihad of the Horn of Africa with the international jihad."
A lot of western media reports are adding words to the end of that last statement, such as "under the leadership of al-Qaeda" or "led by the Al-Qaeda network". Some are attributing this to a speech by Sh. Shangole however there does not appear to be any video or transcript of that available.
H.S.M. has, collectively, always espoused a broader ideology than the nationalism of Hisbul Islam, so, other than the merger w/ some of Turki's militia, there is nothing in the wording of the published agreement that puts forth anything new or revelatory.
As to the AQ aspect, it remains to be seen what was actually said and what can be dismissed as disinfo or just plain rhetoric.
And no images of the mysterious Godane, who supposedly made a rare public appearance at the ceremony, have yet to surface...
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The website somalimemo.com quotes the agreement as stating
Qodabada heshiiska
Iyada oo lagu dhaqmaayo aayadaha iyo axaadiithta badan ee ina faraaya midinimada muslimiinta siiba mujaahidiinta, waxaa ay maanta oo jimce ah 13/02/1431 ku heshiiyeen labada urur ee kor ku xusan sidan:
1- In la mideeyo dhammaan mujaahidiinta labada dhinac.
2- Raadinta midnimda muslimiinta gaar ahaan mujaahidiinta.
3- In loo hawl galo dhismaha dawlad islaami ah, oo hirgelisa shareecada.
4- In loo hiiliyo ummadda muslimka ah, siiba shucuubta muslimiinta ee ku dulman bariga iyo geeska Afrika, kuwaas oo ku hoos jira cagta kooxaha sheegta "kiristaanka", ee laga tirada badan yahay.
5- Si loo soo celiyo sharafta muslimiinta ee dhaawacan, quwadooda siyaasadeed, awoodooda dhaqaale, cududooda mileteri waa in la mideeyo muslimiinta geyiga, lana tirtiro colaadda gumaystuhu dhex dhigay.
6- In laga hortago gulufka saliibiyiinta caalmiga ah, iyo weerarka ay ku soo qaadeen ummadeena muslimiinta ah. Isla markaana jihaadka ka socda geeska Afrika lagu xiro jihaadka caalamiga ah ee uu hogaamiyo urur weynaha Al-qaacida iyo amiirkeeda Sh/ Usaama Bin Ladin.
which translates as
The terms of the agreement
According to the verses of the Koran and several hadiths that call on us, especially the Mujahidin, to unite, today Friday 13/02/1431 Hijriyyah (Islamic calendar), the two factions mentioned above have reached an agreement, with the following terms:
1- To unite the Mujahidin of the two factions.
2- To promote the unity of the Muslim people, specially the Mujahidin.
3- To undertake efforts aimed at establishing an Islamic state that will implement Shari`ah law.
4- To support the Muslim people, specially those facing abuse and humiliation in East (Africa) and the Horn of Africa, who are under the control of those who call themselves “Christians”, who are the minorities.
5- In order to restore the damaged dignity of Muslims, their political power, economic strength and military might, all Muslims in the region should be united and end the hostility among them created by colonial powers.
6- To prevent invasion by the international crusaders and the attacks they have carried out against our Muslim people, the Jihad in the Horn of Africa must be combined with the international Jihad led by the Al-Qaidah network and its Amir (leader) Shaykh Usamah bin-Ladin.
The signatories of the agreement from both sides of Kaambooni Mujahidin and Al-Shabab Mujahidin:
Shaykh Hasan Abdullahi (Turki)
Shaykh Mukhtar (Abu Zubayr)
Shaykh Muhammad Muhummed (Dulyadayn)
Shaykh Mukhtar Robow (Abu Mansur)
Shaykh Muhammad Ahmad (Abu Sa`ad)
Shaykh Fu`ad Muhammad Khalaf (Abu Abdirahman)
Shaykh Ibrahim Adam Ibrahim
Shaykh Abdirahman Ahmad Aden (Siro)
Shaykh Abdulkadir Abdullahi
Shaykh Abu Bakar Al-Zayli`i
Date: 13/Safar/1431 Hijriyyah, 29/01/2010
So there are more than one version of the agreement circulating, which makes it more difficult to establish authenticity.
For instance, a Reuters article from Monday referred to the document as a statement rather than an agreement and then quoted text which doesn't appear in either of the two linked translations published online:
In a statement dated last Friday but seen by Reuters on Monday, al Shabaab and the smaller Kismayu-based Kamboni rebel group said they had put their differences behind them.
"We have agreed to join the international jihad of al Qaeda ... We have also agreed to unite al Shabaab and Kamboni mujahideen to liberate the Eastern and Horn of Africa community who are under the feet of minority Christians," the statement said.
"We have united to revive the military strength, economy and politics of our mujahideen to stop the war created by the colonizers, and to prevent the attacks of the Christians who invaded our country."
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The statement appeared to have been signed by senior rebels including Sheikh Hassan Turki, commander of the Kamboni militia, and the reclusive al Shabaab leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane.
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ENA: Meles holds talks with Somalia president
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi here on Tuesday discussed with President of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on peace and security situation in Somali and regional issues.
Meles commended TFG president for its commitment working in unstable situation in the country.
However, Meles said political works should be done beside undertaking activities to ensure peace and security in the country.
The premier called for mobilizing the public and peace loving forces to fight the destabilizing act of Al shebab and Al Qaeda.
Previously Meles was influential in convincing Sh. Sharif to evoke the threat of transnational terrorists in Somalia, i.e., to play the GWOT card, in order to gain more international suport.
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Report verifies that those tanks on the MV Faina did end up in Southern Sudan
The East African: Kenya ‘conduit’ of weapons as South as ‘arms race’ begins in Sudan
Kenya has been named in a report by a Swiss research institute as the conduit for many of the weapons transferred to Southern Sudan government forces in violation of a peace agreement strongly backed by the United States.
The Sudan Human Security Baseline Assessment, which is a multi-year research project administered by the Small Arms Survey — an independent research project of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies — reported that satellite imagery has confirmed the presence at Southern Sudan military headquarters of tanks that arrived at the port of Mombasa in 2008.
From that report [pdf]:
Satellite imagery from March and May 2009 also confirms that tanks of T-72 dimensions, subsequently visible at the SPLA’s interim general headquarters in Juba, visually matched those being moved through Mombasa port in Kenya in February 2008. These were part of three shipments of T-72 tanks, 122 mm vehicle-mounted rocket launchers, 14.5 mm machine guns, 23 mm antiaircraft cannon, RPG-7 rocket launchers, and AKM assault rifles shipped from Ukraine between 2007 and 2008 under contracts labelled ‘GOSS’ but ostensibly consigned to the Kenyan Ministry of Defence.
Some of these GoSS-destined transfers have involved transport and brokering actors from a range of other states, including European ones, despite the EU embargo, which prohibits ‘brokering services, financing and other related services’ for the supply of arms and related materiel of all types. The Ukraine shipments were organized by two UK-registered companies, shipped partly by a German shipping company, and facilitated by a shipping agency run by a UK national in Mombasa.
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Michael Weinstein's latest analysis is up at Garowe Online, The Balance of Power in Somalia’s Central Regions. It details the January conflicts in central Somalia and incorporates additional updates from his closed source in the southern region.
On the most recent series of battles for control of Beledweyn, Weinstein writes,
How were H.I. and H.S.M. able to retake Beledweyne so swiftly after the reported incursion of Ethiopian forces and Hashi’s announcement of subversive elements [that Western spies had infiltrated H.I. and that troops controlled the by the United States Central Intelligence Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation were “fighting alongside” H.I. forces] in H.I.’s ranks? The source reports that A.S.W.J. explains its defeat by a move on the part of officials in the T.F.G. from the Hawadle clan to split A.S.W.J. by paying Hawadle militias not to engage in fighting. Those officials were also reported to have departed from Hiiraan on the day that it was retaken by H.I. and H.S.M. If this is true, then it reflects the underlying tensions in the anti-H.S.M alliance of convenience. The T.F.G.’s president, Sh. Sharif Sh. Ahmed, has determined that A.S.W.J. is his rival rather than permanent ally and does not want to strengthen A.S.W.J. The source reasons that Sh.Sharif would prefer that the situation in Hiiraan remain undecided to give him “breathing space.”
As for the failure of Ethiopia to protect A.S.W.J., which it supports materially, the source reasons that Addis Ababa is likely to be following a strategy of letting the conflict in Hiiraan intensify to the point at which the Western powers, led by Washington, will feel sufficiently threatened by an H.S.M takeover that they will give the green light for Ethiopia to intervene militarily “without restritions.” The source concludes that only Ethiopian intervention can turn the situation around for the fractured A.S.W.J. alliance.
Keep an eye on the central Mudug region.
With both sides appearing to be girding for a confrontation in Galgadud and attempting to consolidate their positions, the source reports that A.S.W.J. is losing morale, due to the loss of a key commander who was killed in a “feigned retreat” from Beledweyne and who had earlier led in a recapture of Dhusamareb from H.S.M. by A.S.W.J. The source expects an Ethiopian intervention only if H.S.M. threatens Galkayo, the strategic capital of the Mudug region that is divided between the Galmudug and Puntland administrations.
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Shabelle Media: Ex- deputy leader of Hizbul Islam explains his joining to Al-shabab
Ex- deputy leader of the Islamic organization of Hizbul Islam Sheik Hassan Abdullahi Hersi known as (Sheik Hassan Turkey) has Thursday explained more about his joining to Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen officials.
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The official talks to journalists for the first time since he united with Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen and explained more on how he became one of the Islamic administration of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen saying that he was member of meeting happened in the Baidoa town about 250 kilomtres south of the Somali capital Mogadishu adding that he signed that he had formally joined to Al-shabab.
"I was true that I had joined Al-shabab, the main aim was to unite the Mujahideen (Islamist fighters) to unite with Islamist fighters in the world, it was right that I was member of the officials who met in Baidoa town. I signed articles agreed in the town with Al-shabab," said Sheik Hassan Turkey.
Sheik Hassan Turkey asserted that he was a witness of the meeting in Baidoa town calling for all the Islamists to unite to defend the Islamic region and to have relation with Islamists in the world.
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Maybe this explains the recent news in Uganda that backpay issues for AMISOM troops were being settled...
AFP: Burundi opens trial of 'mutinous' peacekeepers
Burundi on Thursday began trying 33 soldiers accused of mutiny while serving as peacekeepers with the African Union force in Somalia.
Military prosecutor Lietenant-Colonel Jean-Claude Nzigamasabo said that on January 9, 2009 the junior officers gathered and took arms without permission and disobeyed their superiors.
The officers did so "to demand 6,000 dollars, claiming that their superiors had embezzled the money promised by the AU," Nzigamasabo told the court.
"All the 33 soldiers are being tried for revolting and incitement to revolt. They took arms and positioned themselves in all the strategic areas at Mogadishu university," the prosecutor said.
Only 23 of the accused were present during the hearing, five having deserted and five others were absent.
"The army defrauded us of 100 dollars on our monthly salary, 10 dollars on our daily food rations and 2,000 dollars on our deployment fee, which makes a total of 6,000 dollars per soldier," one of the accused officers told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The incident had been kept under wraps and the soldiers were arrested when they returned home weeks after the stand-off.
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Increasing signs this week that some type of coordinated offensive on the part of the TFG et al to somehow purge Somalia of H.S.M. and H.I. may indeed be materializing
Garowe Online: Somali forces ready for war against rebels
Somalia’s embattled government is reportedly preparing its troops in a latest offensive against the powerful insurgents in the restive capital Mogadishu, sources told Garowe Online.
Somali government officials said the offensive is led by experienced troops’ commanders, who are up to the task of clearing the insurgents from the capital
“The TFG forces are in the front line, they are ready to attack Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam positions in Mogadishu,” said a top government official, who requested anonymity.
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..a government official said the latest offensive will have huge impact on the civilians.
“The war will affect every corner of the country and the government forces have vowed to liberate the people,” said the official.
Hundreds of residents have started fleeing from their homes for fear, joining thousands others in the outskirts of Mogadishu.
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Even though African Union troops who are based in the capital have downplayed their involvement in the government plans, reports that reached GO suggest otherwise.
Garowe Online: Kenya trains '2,500 Somalia troops'
Some 2,500 Somali troops have finished training in neighbouring Kenya and are ready to join a Somali government offensive against rebels, which control much of the war-torn country.
According to Kenyan officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the new recruits are only waiting their final assessments before actual deployment.
“The recruits have been trained well and they are expected to complete the trainings in the coming days,” said a former Kenyan military officer who was part of the trainers.
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Somali government, which also has soldiers trained by Uganda, Djibouti and Burundi, has already announced plans to flush out the insurgents from much parts of the country.
An unnamed source also spoke to Reuters on the training
Somali recruits trained for battle in Kenya
ISIOLO, Kenya (Reuters) - Thousands of Somalis have been trained in Kenya and are ready to join a Somali government offensive against rebels in the failed Horn of Africa state who have vowed loyalty to al Qaeda, security sources said on Friday.
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One former member of the Kenyan military contracted to train the Somali recruits in northestern Kenya said 2,500 troops just needed to complete their final assessments before deployment.
"The training has been successful, tough. Some recruits were unable to cope. They left us with a strong team," the instructor told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
"They've been trained on combat skills, fire and manoeuvre, weaponry and general endurance to hardships by exposure to the rough terrain.," said the instructor
Kenyan Defence Minister Yusuf Haji told Reuters in December during a visit to Isiolo that the government was training Somalis both in Samburu and on the coast.
"Kenya has an obligation as any other member of the African Union to assist any other member country. We agreed and offered to train Somali security forces," he said.
The training has been taking place some 60 km (40 miles) from Isiolo near the Samburu wildlife reserve in an area also used by British forces for exercises.
Garowe Online: Mogadishu residents flee planned govt offensive
Hundreds of residents have started fleeing the embattled Somali capital of Mogadishu as government forces and hard-line militant fighters prepare for an all out war.
The massive exodus was witnessed in the areas under the control of the militants where residents expressed great fear over the imminent battle between the two sides.
“We are fleeing from Huriwa area, which we lived in since the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops early last year. We heard that the area is under attack and preparing to leave for the central parts” said a lady who added that at least 10 families have left the area on Saturday.
The areas which saw massive exodus include the northern districts such as Hodan, Wardhigley and Yaqshid, which are largely under the control of the militants.
Al-Shabaab has deployed thousands of its fighters in the neighborhoods in preparation for the planned government offensives.
Meanwhile, Somalia’s pro-government armed group Ahlu Sunnah Wal-Jamaa announced that it is planning to carry out attacks on the southern region of Gedo in the coming days.
Sheikh Abdirahman Al-Azhar said the plan is to oust Hizbul Islam and Al-Shabaab from the region, adding that recent attack on border town of Balad Hawa was test run to determine the military capacity of their rivals.
Shabelle Media: More Ethiopian troops reach in El-berde in southern Somalia
More heavily armored Ethiopian troops with many Somali transitional government soldiers have reached at El-berde village in Bakol region in southern Somalia, witnesses told Shabelle radio on Sunday.
Reports say that the Ethiopian troops were accompanied by officers of both the Somali and Ethiopian governments according to the residents in the village adding that the Somali soldiers were those who were trained in the Somali region under the control of Ethiopia.
The real aim that the troops poured into the village was unclear so far.
Local elders and residents confirmed the arrival of the Ethiopian and Somali government soldiers in El-berde village in southern Somalia.
Mareeg Online adds
other Ethiopian troops entered early on Sunday in parts of Hiraan region in central Somalia.
The Ethiopian troops have reportedly made bases in Sarirale Mountain near Baladweyne, the provincial capital of Hiraan region.
Garowe Online: Al-Shabaab declares jihad on Kenya
The Islamic administration of Al-Shabaab that controls Somalia’s southern regions of Jubba has on Sunday declared holy war on Kenya over reports that Nairobi is training Somali troops.
Sheikh Hussen Abdi Gedi, Al-Shabaab’s second in command in the southern port city of Kismayo said his group has received reports of planned offensives from the Kenyan side, urging the regions’ residents to prepare for holy war.
“Kenya has prepared troops that comprise of Kenyans and Somalis, who are trained to attack and take over the regions. They are planning to attack us on the land, sea and air. We are urging people to be ready and defend our land,” he told Al-Shabaab’s Andalus radio on Sunday.
His sentiments come as Kismayo, the lucrative southern Somali port city that fuels insurgent activities across the war-torn country, witnesses a low flying military planes which raised high tension.
The border between the two countries has also seen the enormous presence of Kenyan troops, who are patrolling with the battle wagons.
It is the first time that the rebel group has declared jihad against Kenya since capturing the bordering region.
Press TV: Al-Shabab impose curfew over stronghold
The Al-Shabab fighters have imposed an undeclared curfew in the southern Somali town of Merka after a number helicopters flew over their stronghold.
Somali opposition fighters ordered the closure of businesses and civil activities in the Lower Shabelle fishing town of Merka after five low-flying helicopters carried out an apparent reconnaissance operation over the coastal town.
The apparent two-hour scouting flights drove Al-Shabab to deploy anti-aircraft rocket launchers on high buildings tops in order to ward off possible attacks, a Press TV correspondent reported.
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A large number of African Union troops have also reportedly approached Merka and Baraawe in the effort to crack down on the fighters.
Garowe Online: Al-Shabaab withdraws from Bakara Market
Confidential sources told Garowe Online that Somalia’s Al-Shabaab has started withdrawing all its weapons, battle vehicles and fighters from Mogadishu’s main Bakara Market, which has been their stronghold since the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops.
The sources said the group is taking the drastic action ahead of the planned government offensive against its positions in the capital.
Small cars transport weapons and other equipments from Bakara Market. The battle wagons have also left the market, we don’t know where they are taken,” said a trader who requested not be named for security reasons.
Other sources said the group has also withdrawn all its fighters and weapons from Daynile district, another stronghold which is located outskirts of Mogadishu.
The government announced the planned offensives against the powerful rebels in a bid to take over the security of the capital.
However, Al-Shabaab’s spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohammud Raghe (Ali Dhere) termed the government plans as just another over publicized one that would always gone to disappoint.
“The reports from the TFG that it wants to attack us are just another unworthy warning, which has been going around since Omar Hashi era, it wouldn’t happen,” he told reporters in Mogadishu last week.
AP: Delays plague Somali offensive against Islamists
Top Somali officials are threatening to begin a military offensive against Islamist insurgents but critics - some of them demoralized soldiers - say a lack of equipment, funds and training put any ultimate success into doubt.
The offensive has been planned for months and has been postponed repeatedly, but questions remain about whether it can bring long-term security in a country suffering from almost two decades of conflict.
It is still unclear when the offensive will begin or what it will entail. Somali forces are hampered by a lack of equipment, late paychecks, and some complain they do not even have enough food.
"There is nothing the government has done but survive," said Mogadishu resident Sheik Mohamud Abdulle. "We have been hearing of late the government's threat to the rebels, but we expect little from any military action as long as its soldiers are not regularly paid."
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One soldier, Osman Mohamed Dalaal, a recruit at Camp Jizira in Mogadishu, where the bulk of the pro-government fighters are staying, told The Associated Press the men there were getting only two meals a day and that morale was low because they were not regularly paid.
A security official and a diplomat told the AP that around 500 fighters who were trained in Djibouti were also in the camp, although two diplomats said some of the men needed further training and they all needed regular pay and more equipment. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak to the media.
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There are superficial signs the government would like the operation to launch soon. Somali flags have been painted on armored vehicles in Mogadishu and a government-controlled radio station has been asked to find patriotic music to play during the offensive.
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Even if the offensive succeeds, it is unclear if the government can hold the territory takes or use its position to seek a more durable political solution to the conflict.
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Garowe Online: Kenya: U.S. Firm Wins Oil Hunt Contract
Kenya and US firm Anardako Petroleum Corporation have signed an agreement for the exploration of five offshore oil and gas blocks in Lamu basin.
The ministry of Energy said the pact for blocks L5, L 7, L11A, L11B and L12 was signed by the Government to intensify the search for commercial crude oil and gas deposits.
Senior superintending geologist, Mr Hudson Andambi, said Anardako was awarded all the blocks because it has vast expertise in deep-sea exploration.
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