08 November 2021
The leader of Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a, Moalim Mohamud Sheikh Hassan Farah, has given an interview for the first time since the resurgence of his group, in which he spoke about the fighting in Guri El district and Ahlu Sunna’s position on the regional government. In Galmudug, he also criticized the federal government.
In an interview with the BBC, Maalim Mohamud Sheikh Hassan first said that they will continue to work with the idea of ’supporting their people whenever they need a wing’ and are committed to eradicating Al Shabaab from the country.
He described the heavy fighting in Guri El as unfortunate, saying it was an aggression against them, and strongly criticized the Galmudug leadership and the federal government.
“It was a war conduct for personal reason rather then for political goals. Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a clerics did not start or incite violence. At the beginning of the war, we visited our great clerics, we declared that the government and the people should unite against this terrorist organization that has spread in the country. “While we were there, we were attacked by the Galmudug government with the help of the entire Somali army,” said Moalim Mohamud.
In particular, he blamed the fighting on Commander-in-Chief Odowaa Yusuf Rage, who he said was leading the fighting in Guri El on October 23-26, which killed officers and soldiers on both sides. Moalim Mohamud placed the responsibility on the central government and Galmudug.
“At first, people did not recognize that we were in a place where there was no government presence for 12 years, where we carried out the function of the government and during that time no terrorists came in or approached us. Where were the government forces who were suppose to be there during those 12 years? Falsehoods and misinformation was spread including that ‘we have mobilized troops’ what are they trying to achieve. There was no other forces in the area except ours, ”said the Ahlu Sunna leader.
During the interview, Maalim Mohamud Sheikh Hassan acknowledged that Ahlu Sunna recognizes the existence of the Galmudug administration, “If we did not recognize this, there would be no problem. “We recognize it and we have made it clear, but it is not the case that if the administration becomes a protector of terrorists, then if that’s the case they will lose control,” he said.
He added, “Guriel is our home, Dhusamareb is our home, I was born there, Sheikh Mohamed Shakir was born there, where does a government come from that says people can not come to their country? Are you a government in the first place? We’ve always been armed, we’ve been there for 12 years, and we have weapons, did it start this morning? We are not home. ”
Speaking about the war against Al-Shabaab, he said that Ahlu Sunna is the only force that can eradicate Al-Shabaab from the central regions. He denied that this was a matter for the Galmudug state under the federal government.
When asked who helped them reorganize and where they got their money from, he replied, “We have always had our finances in place. People who do not have confidence in themselves say, ‘We need to get funding for our people?’
Moalim Mohamud denied reports that Ahlu Sunna was receiving support from the Puntland administration and the Iranian government, and described the remarks as ridiculous.
Maalim was also asked about the whereabouts of their fighters after the fierce fighting between government and Galmudug forces in Guriel district, and said that they left Guriel at the request of other clerics and officials.
“Ahlu Sunna is close to Guri’el, and it was at the request of Islamic scholars from Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a and its leaders. “Our aim is to stay at home, we are defending what we have been defending, faith and people, we will not seek the permission of anyone to do that”said Moalim Mohamud.
Finally, the Ahlu Sunna leader said they would enter into talks on two fronts: being Ahlu Sunna and having a role as prime minister in the regional administration, while leaving the role of the president, he said.
“The solution is to sit down and talk about everyone’s rights. “If we do not talk to them, we will continue our government and we will repel any attackers,” said Moalim Mohamud Sheikh Hassan Farah, the leader of Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a.