afrol News, 5 June - After having been ruled by various rival warlords for 15 years, the Somali capital this weekend fell into the hands of a militia controlled by Islamist courts. The warlords have recognised their defeat and are negotiating a controlled takeover of Mogadishu by the Islamist militia. Developments are seen as a serious setback for US interests in the region.
Shari'a court leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed read out a statement broadcasted by Mogadishu radio stations, announcing the defeat of the warlords and return to peace and order in the Somali capital. The Islamist leader said his militia was now in control of all strategic points of the city and that the warlords had recognised defeat.
"The Joint Islamic Courts do not want continuation of hostilities and will ensure peace and security following the change attained by the victory of the people with the support of Allah," Sheikh Ahmed said in the broadcast. He added that the Shari'a courts' movement was not opposing any other movement or nation and would engages in any talks that could further the interests of Somalia.
The eight defeated warlords - who in February had united their forces to form an "anti-terrorism" alliance to fight the increasingly influential Islamists - mostly have left the Somali capital. Representatives of the warlords today however were to meet with the Islamist militia to formalise the orderly takeover of Mogadishu.
Somalia's transitional government, led by President Abdullahi Yusuf from the town of Baidoa, today sent positive signals towards the new rulers of Mogadishu. Transitional Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi sacked four of the Mogadishu warlords from government, where they held minister posts, due to their unlawful engagement in the warfare that has shaken the city since February. Mr Ghedi also said he wanted engage in dialogue with the Islamists.
Also transitional President Yusuf today seemed more open towards the Mogadishu Islamists, although the ex-warlord from northern Somalia is known not to be fond of Islamist groupings. The Somali leader earlier had asked Washington to channel funds directly to the transitional government to help fight the Islamist movement in Mogadishu.
Little is still known about the political positions of the Islamist grouping of Shari'a courts now in control of Mogadishu and whether they defend fundamentalist ideologies. The courts allegedly have been widely financed by Saudi Arabians, propagating a much more fundamentalist Islam than what is common among Sunni Somalis.
The Islamist militia and the Shari'a courts on several occasions have been accused of links with terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda, of receiving foreign aid from extremists and of hosting foreign fighters. These accusations however mostly came from the warlords' "anti-terrorism alliance" - a name chosen to gain international support - and have never been properly documented. The Shari'a courts deny these allegations.
Indeed, the Islamists have steadily gained popular ground in war-ravaged Mogadishu, whose residents long for stability, peace and order after 15 years of anarchy. In the parts of the city where they have been in control, the courts have proven rather successful in re-establishing law and order; at the disadvantage of the warlords that were equally losing influence.
To secular President Yusuf and Washington, the victory of the Islamists in Mogadishu is seen as a major setback that could negatively affect the Somali peace process. The US government has not denied allegations saying it had co-financed the Mogadishu "anti-terrorism alliance" during the last few months.
Somalia has always been seen as a highly strategic country due to its location, but since the collapse of central government in 1991, anarchy has ruled most of the country. Since it launched its "war against terrorism", Washington on several occasions has suspected al-Qaeda strongholds developing in Somalia, fearing the "failed state" could become a new scene of international war.
The US now operates anti-terrorism bases in neighbouring Djibouti and Kenya. These bases are also strongly engaged in the surveillance of Islamist activities in Somalia. It is believed that Washington will not accept the Islamist militia trying to extend its control beyond Mogadishu.
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