Hiiraan Online
Sunday May 1, 2016
BULO BURTE (HOL) – Brandishing his AK-47, Mumin Elmi, a 65 years-old herder and his men are on a tough mission: expelling the feared Al Shabab fighters whom they blamed of robbery and cold-blood murders against their people from their villages, a goal which despite challenges showed early success.
Their story is one of few instances in which disgruntled villagers turned on militants without outside assistance, saying that they are tired of endless restrictions and punishments the group imposed on once-peaceful villages.
“We had to take up arms against them (al Shabab) because they started robbing us of the few animals that survived the droughts and killing our people.” the orange-bearded man said sitting among his men with rifles slung over their shoulders in a village in Hiiraan region.
Mr. Elmi said that his local militia dubbed ‘Mawisley’ which translates the men who wear lungi, a sarong-like garment wrapped around the waist and extending to the ankles, often worn by Somali men has so far driven Al Shabab off two villages – Mahas and Moqokori, two areas where government and African Union troops are fighting for years to reach.
Lacking ammunition, vehicles and proper military hardware, the new militiamen often use domestic animals including camel to transport their wounded to hospitals in remote towns.
“You can understand that taking up a gun would never have been an option for me at this age, but they beheaded my son, and I have since decided to fight them, no matter the risks involved.” He said, calling his mission a ‘self-defence’.
Residents in the two villages recaptured by the new armed militia said that local militia’s control brought stability and saved them from daily taxations Al Shabab once imposed on them, along with restrictions on their movements.
Al-Shabaab militant group often collects millions of dollars in zakat, or alms, in areas that it controls in the central and southern Somalia, however, residents often accuse the group of forcefully taking their livestock for the annual zakat.
“Facing such enemies requires sacrifice, not only a big military power – we are determined to keep our people safe.” He said.
Facing mounting challenges, including attacks by militants and lack of equipment, the armed villagers say that they would move to liberate new towns.
“We need an urgent support to keep the momentum.” Mr. Elmi appealed Somali government and Somali diaspora communities around the world.