The leader of Somalia’s Hizbul Islam group, Sheikh Hassan  Dahir Aweys has reiterated that Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Islam ‘Madobe’ is still part of his group.
 
Sheikh Aweys who was addressing congregation at Bakara Market, directly responded to a claim by one of the group’s top official in Gedo region, who accused Madobe of executing agendas backed by Ethiopia and Kenya.
 
"I can say Sheikh El-Moge was talking from his own personal views. It does not represent the views of the group,” he said.

Sheikh Farhan Abdi Ali Moge, who was recently appointed the groups chairman in Gedo region, accused his fellow group members Sheikh Madobe and Sheikh Mohammed Maalin of executing foreign-backed agendas to destabilize Somali Islamists.
 
Aweys said the war between his group and Al-Shabaab over the control Kismayo, a lucrative port city is an economical one and can not be translated into a religious affairs.
 
“If we look back at the fight over Kismayo, I can say it was a worldly affair. We were angered by the way Al-Shabaab unilaterally elected administration for the town to accumulate wealth and discard us. The war will continue if quick solution is not found,” he stated.
 
Commenting about the decision by his former deputy Sheikh Hassan Abdullahi Al-Turki to join Al-Shabaab, he said the official has taken his own decision with out discussing with any one in the group.
 
“It is surprising that Sheikh Hassan Turki, who was behind the formation of Hizbul Islam, thinks that Al-Shabaab is more powerful than Hizbul Islam,” he said.
 
The 65-year old cleric accused Al-Shabaab of labeling all its oppositions include his group as religious apostates, urging them to stop the war and allow reconciliation to consolidate the powers of Islamists in the country.
 
The two groups, which are jointly involved in arm struggle against the embattled UN-backed Somali government, have broke ranks in recent past after they disputed over the control of southern Somalia including Kismayo.

GAROWE ONLINE