Sheikh Dahir Hassan Aweys

According to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) quoted by UPI, the Al-Qaeda-linked Shabab al-Mujahedin in Somalia is renouncing the Islamic Courts Union. The group, dominated by non-Somalis, accused the ICU for changing its preference in favor of nationalist Somali groups instead of religious groups with “global aims of the jihadist movement.”

The ICU controlled most of southern Somalia until an allied Somali and Ethiopian forces removed the group from power late in 2006. ICU’s leader, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, is one of the persons on UN wanted list of “terrorists” linked with Al Qaeda, though he denies the accusations. Despite the Somali government achieving milestones to establish transitional institutions, isolated violence remains a major problem for Mogadishu.

Source: Jimma Times, Feb 07, 2008