Wikipedia

Hassan Dahir Aweys

SheikhHassan Dahir Aweys(English:Hassan Dahir Aweys(Somali:Xasan Daahir Aweys,(Arabic:حسن طاهر أويس;born 1935) is aSomaliIslamist political figure.[2]

Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys
الشيخ حسن ضاهر أويس
Aweys during 2006
Chairman of theIslamic Courts UnionShura Council
In office
24 June 2006 – 27 December 2006
DeputyOmar Imam Abubakar
Preceded byPost Established
Succeeded byPost Abolished
Personal details
Born1935 (age 88–89)[1]
Dusmareb,Italian Somaliland
NationalitySomali
Children11
Alma materGeneral Daud Military Academy
Military service
AllegianceSomali Democratic Republic(1972–1983)
Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya(1991–1997)
Islamic Courts Union(2000–2007)
Hizbul Islam(2009–2010)
RankColonel
Battles/wars

During the regime ofSiad Barre,Aweys was a colonel in theSomali National Armyand served in the 1977Ogaden WaragainstEthiopia.[3][4][5]Aweys later came to be a leading figure in Somalia's rising Islamic movements at the start of theCivil War,beginning withAl-Itihaad al-Islamiyafrom 1991. After the effective dissolution of Al-Itihaad in 1997, he became the head of an Islamic Court in north Mogadishu and eventually rose to a high-ranking position within theIslamic Courts Unionuntil theEthiopian invasion of 2006.After the invasion he joined theAlliance for the Re-Liberation of Somaliaand became head of theAsmarawing of the ARS. During the insurgency, his wing of the alliance merged with several groups to formHizbul Islam.

In 2010, Hizbul Islam and Al-Shabaab merged, but disputes between Aweys and the Al-Shabaab leadership would result in several attempts on his life and his eventual defection toFederal Government of Somaliain 2013.

Early life

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Aweys was born in the city ofDhusamareb,Galguduudregion in central Somalia. He is part of theAyrwing of theHabr Gidir,a major sub-clan of theHawiye.In 1963 he moved toMogadishuand went to secondary school. He joined theSomali National Army(SNA) after and went to 'General Daudmilitary academy' in 1972, from which he graduated. Aweys rose to the rank ofColoneland was decorated with a silver medal for bravery during the 1977–1978Ogaden Waragainst Ethiopia.[6][7]

Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya (1991–1997)

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Following the collapse of the Somali government, Aweys joinedal-Itihaad al-Islamiya(AIAI) in 1991. He eventually became vice chairman and military commander of the organization.[6]During fighting between AIAI and an Ethiopian backedSomali Salvation Democratic Front(SSDF) force led byAbdullahi Yusuf,Aweys captured and arrested Yusuf at an early stage of the clashes, though AIAI was eventually routed.[8]From 1991 to 1998, AIAI'sGedoRegion branch led by former Somali High Court Judge Mohamed Haji Yusuf maintained formidable forces.[citation needed]Gedo district seats of Lugh, Balad Hawo and Burdubo were all run by AIA forces.[citation needed]Lugh was entirely governed by AIAI.[citation needed]At the time, there were other regional military authoritySomali National Front (SNF)running parts of Gedo.[citation needed]Sheikh Aweys settled in Lower Shabelle when some disputes came of light in Lugh's Al-Itahad leadership.[citation needed]

On 18 September 1996, the Ethiopian army invaded Lugh and forced out most of the AIAI forces.[citation needed]The following two years, the war front changed into what was later to become theMountains Warof Gedo.[citation needed]And the war this time was between SNF and AIAI.[citation needed]The Ethiopian regime just armed SNF militias.[citation needed]Ethiopians gave SNF an estimated 800 to 1000 small arms and around a dozen heavy weapons.[citation needed]The Gedo war ended when both sides agreed on a truce, and general peace with a peace conference held in El Ade in December 1998 was concluded.[citation needed]

Terrorism accusations by U.S. President Bush

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On 7 November 2001, Sheikh Aweys was named a 'supporter of terrorism' in a supplement ofExecutive Order 13224ofUnited States PresidentGeorge W. Bush.[9][citation needed]According to NBC News, Sheikh Aweys is also on the terrorist list of theUnited States Department of State[10]as somebody who is known as an al-Qaeda operative or who is connected with al-Qaeda. Sheikh Aweys has always denied the US terrorism allegations. He told AFP news agency;[8]

It is not proper to put somebody on a list of terrorists who has not killed or harmed anybody. I am not a terrorist. But if strictly following my religion and love for Islam makes me a terrorist, then I will accept the designation.

Islamic Courts Union (2000–2006)

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Main article:Islamic Courts Union

After the defeat ofAIAIAweys played a key role in setting up a system of courts according to theshari'aby local businessmen desperate for order. According to the BBC he was the ICU's spiritual leader. The Courts brought relative stability to areas under its control, after years of turmoil. The Courts' notion of order was strict, includingstoningsfor serious crimes such asrapeandmurder.At first it only controlled the area of northMogadishu,but it gained support from many Somali's following the random violence committed by the warlords who controlled southern Mogadishu. Beginning 2004, eleven of these courts folded into an umbrella organization, theIslamic Courts Union,which fielded a formidable militia. A UN report in early 2006 stated that Aweys was receiving military support fromEritrea,as part of the ongoing conflict between it and Ethiopia, though Eritrea denies the claim.[8]According to independent military experts, Aweys training and strategy had given the ICU forces the edge they required to rout the warlords.[11]Following theICU'svictoryinMogadishuin June 2006, Aweys rose to be the head of the shura committee.[12][13][14]

On 19 December 2006, he received medical treatment inEgyptjust before the beginning of the war against the UN-backedTransitional Federal Government(TFG) and Ethiopian troops.[15]On 21 December 2006, as the fighting intensified with Ethiopia, he took a flight to an undisclosed location withYusuf Mohammed Siad Inda'ade,and rather than news of medical treatment, it was said he was on thehajj.[16]According toVoice of America,Aweys leftMogadishuon 27 December 2006, along with several hundred members ofAl-Shabaab's inner circle.[17]

Aweys was the head of the 90-membershuracouncil of theIslamic Courts Union(ICU) ofSomalia[13]and according to theBBCwas viewed as one of the more radical leaders of the Union, which promotedshari'aand directed the militias that took control of the Somali capital ofMogadishuin June 2006. TheBBCalso mention that an eight-member executive committee was headed by the more moderateSharif Sheikh Ahmed.[18]TheBBCstated "It is still not clear which man is more powerful."[8]Aweys resigned from the ICU on 28 December 2006, at theend of ICU rule in Mogadishu.

Insurgency (2007–2013)

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2009–2010: Hizbul Islam

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Main article:Hizbul Islam

In early 2009, four major rebel groups, Sheikh Aweys'Asmara-based wing of the ARS,Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki'sRas Kamboni Brigade,Jabhatul IslamiyaandMuaskar Anolejoined to form a new group calledHizbul Islam,to oppose the new government of PresidentSharif Sheikh Ahmed.[19]Although the group was initially led by Omar Iman Abubakar, he stepped down on 26 May 2009 in favour of Sheikh Aweys taking the position of chairman.[20]On 23 April 2009, Sheikh Aweys returned to Somalia from Eritrea.[21][citation needed]He made clear that he would not meetSheikh Sharifsaying:

"Mr Sharif's government was not elected by the Somali people and it is not representing the interests the Somali people"[22]

On 9 May 2009,Hizbul IslamandAl Shabaabtried to topple the government ofSharif Sheikh Ahmed[23][citation needed]by opening the2009 Battle of Mogadishu,which lasted for months, in which the Islamists managed to gain territory but failed ultimately to topple the regime. Mogadishu residents reported that they saw foreign fighters in the frontline of the battle, raising concerns that Somalia may become the next terrorist safe haven after Iraq and Afghanistan.[24][citation needed]In June 2009, it was rumoured he had been killed during theBattle of Wabho.He later dismissed reports that he was killed or heavily injured.[25]After theBattle of Kisimayo (2009)the group was involved in an unsuccessful power-struggle with al-Shabaab in which Hizbul Islam was ultimately forced to surrender,[26]after which they merged with al-Shabaab on 20 December 2010 under the banner of al-Shabaab, dropping the name Hizbul Islam.[27][28]

2010–2013: Al-Shabaab (HSM)

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Main article:Al-Shabaab (militant group)

Aweys was involved in the power struggle betweenMukhtar Robow(Abu Mansoor) andMoktar Ali Zubeyr(Godane), during which he supported Abu Mansoor in demanding that Godane would step down as the group's Emir.[29]Aweys had been described as Hizbul Islam's political and spiritual leader.[30][31]

Defection and house arrest

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In June 2013, Aweys defected to the government and was taken into custody by Somali security forces,[32][4]denoting the victory of the hardliners in al-Shabaab.[33]However, there was speculation inThe Economist Newspaperthe nature of his arrest, initially being promised talks with government officials and then being roughed up by soldiers when arrested instead, created concern that it could have caused the Hawiye clan of the presidentHassan Sheikh Mohamudand Aweys to split.[34]

References

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  1. ^"OFAC Recent Actions".Archived fromthe originalon 5 September 2015.
  2. ^Hoehne, Markus Virgil."Counter-terrorism in Somalia: How external interference helped to produce militant Islamism"(PDF).p. 13.Archived(PDF)from the original on 22 January 2016.Retrieved16 May2012.As introduced earlier, Hassan Dahir Aweys (Hawiye/Habr Gedir/Ayr/Ayaanle) was a colonel in the Somali army who participated in the Ogaden war between Somalia and Ethiopia (1977–1978).
  3. ^Rice, Xan (26 December 2006)."Retreat fails to quell fears of long war in Horn of Africa".The Guardian.London.Archivedfrom the original on 30 May 2024.Retrieved8 January2007.
  4. ^ab"Shabab's brutal warlord sent a message with Kenya mall attack".Los Angeles Times.13 October 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 28 December 2023.Retrieved28 December2023.
  5. ^"Islamists half-ready for holy war".The Economist. 12 October 2006.Archivedfrom the original on 30 April 2007.Retrieved18 January2007.
  6. ^ab"Facts about Somali opposition leader Aweys".Reuters.6 June 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 16 May 2021.Retrieved28 December2023.
  7. ^"Hassan Dahir Says He Is Not Supporter of Alshabaab".allAfrica.23 May 2014.
  8. ^abcd"Profile: Somalia's Islamist leader".30 June 2006.Archivedfrom the original on 28 August 2018.Retrieved25 September2022.
  9. ^Suspected Terrorist List,list maintained by the U.S. Commonwealth ofMassachusettsArchived3 May 2006 at theWayback Machine
  10. ^Meet the PressU.S. Senator Russ Feingold calls Aweys "an al-Qaeda operative or somebody that is connected with al-Qaeda." 25 June 2006
  11. ^"Facts about hardline Somali cleric Aweys".Reuters.6 September 2007.Archivedfrom the original on 17 May 2021.Retrieved28 December2023.
  12. ^"Militant leader emerges in Somalia".The New York Times.25 June 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 1 July 2006.Retrieved8 January2007.
  13. ^abSOMALIA: Islamic courts set up consultative council,Integrated Regional Information Networks,26 June 2006Archived21 September 2006 at theWayback Machine
  14. ^Ethiopia says Somalia 'a threat'Archived17 January 2007 at theWayback Machine,BBC News, 28 June 2006
  15. ^"West 'backing the wrong horse' in Mogadishu peace initiatives".The East African.29 January 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 2 February 2007.Retrieved29 January2007.
  16. ^"Somalia: Top Islamist officials leave for unknown destination".SomaliNet.21 December 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 17 January 2007.Retrieved8 January2007.
  17. ^"Former Members of Radical Somali Group Give Details of Their Group".Voice of America.6 January 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 8 January 2007.Retrieved8 January2007.
  18. ^'Radical' heads new Somali bodyArchived28 August 2018 at theWayback Machine,BBC News,25 June 2006
  19. ^allafricaIslamists want to keep fighting against the new governmentArchived11 February 2009 at theWayback Machine
  20. ^"7 killed in violence, Aweys crowned Hizbul Islam chief".Archivedfrom the original on 8 October 2012.Retrieved23 November2011.
  21. ^DPA (23 April 2009)."Prominent Islamist returns to Somalia after two-year exile".Archived fromthe originalon 29 August 2012.Retrieved1 May2009.
  22. ^Mohamed, Mohamed (28 May 2009)."Somalia's kingmaker returns".BBC News.Archivedfrom the original on 1 May 2009.Retrieved4 May2009.
  23. ^"UN Somalia envoy accuses Islamist of coup attempt".14 May 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2011.Retrieved18 May2009.
  24. ^"Foreign fighters are 'our Muslim brothers': Al Shabaab".12 May 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 15 May 2009.Retrieved18 May2009.
  25. ^"Aweys Resurfaces to Dispel Claims of Being Wounded".Archivedfrom the original on 4 March 2016.Retrieved23 November2011.
  26. ^"Hassan Dahir Aweys of Hisbul Islam leader joins Al-shabab militias".Mareeg.Archivedfrom the original on 4 April 2012.Retrieved7 November2012.
  27. ^"Profile: Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys".Critical Threats. 3 August 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 2 April 2013.Retrieved7 November2012.
  28. ^"Al-Shabaab and Hizbul-Islam Officially Join Together".Demotix.Archived fromthe originalon 19 May 2015.Retrieved15 February2015.
  29. ^AK (8 December 2011)."Al-Shabaab Leader Admits Split".Somalia Report.Archived fromthe originalon 22 October 2012.Retrieved7 November2012.
  30. ^Leftie, Peter; Barasa, Lucas (15 November 2011)."Somalia: Missile Raid Targeted Top Shabaab Leaders".allAfrica.com.Archivedfrom the original on 21 December 2011.Retrieved3 December2019.
  31. ^Leftie, Peter; Barasa, Lucas (17 November 2011)."Three al-Shabaab feared dead".Daily Monitor.Archivedfrom the original on 30 July 2013.Retrieved7 November2012.
  32. ^Sheikh, Abdi (26 June 2013). Lough, Richard; Blair, Edmund; Heavens, Andrew (eds.)."Prominent militant arrested in blow to Somali Islamists".Reuters.TheThomson ReutersTrust Principles.Archivedfrom the original on 8 January 2020.Retrieved3 December2019.
  33. ^Chothia, Farouk (4 July 2013)."Will Somali Islamist purge strengthen al-Shabab?".BBC News Online.BBC Online.BBC.Archivedfrom the original on 20 June 2020.Retrieved3 December2019.
  34. ^"Somalia and its Shabab: Are the Islamists truly on the ropes?".Economist.The Economist Newspaper Limited.6 July 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 22 June 2017.Retrieved3 December2019.
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