Somalia
Somalia: Mogadishu's ex-mayor links govt leaders to al Shabaab
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Oct 7, 2008 - 12:10:38 AM

T he former mayor of Somalia's war-battered traditional capital, Mogadishu, has alleged that top government leaders are linked to the country's notorious al Shabaab insurgents.

Mohamed "Dheere" Omar, in a Monday interview with Mogadishu-based Radio HornAfrik, said bomb threats against Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport apparently do not include "some" government officials.

"As you know, while Muslims and non-Muslims alike are being targeted with mortars at the airport [in Mogadishu], as the President [Abdullahi Yusuf] himself cannot fly out, some members of the Government landed without any mortar attacks," said Mohamed Dheere, who was fired by Prime Minister Nur "Adde" Hassan Hussein in July.

He stated the fact that an airplane transporting the Prime Minister was not targeted with mortars on September 25 as it landed at Mogadishu's airport is indicative of "a deep connection" between the Prime Minister and al Shabaab insurgents, who are responsible for deadly mortar raids on the airport.

Mohamed Dheere, a former warlord, commended recent comments associated with self-appointed Hawiye Council spokesman Ahmed Dirie. [ READ: Hawiye Council spokesman 'threatened' by al Shabaab]

"Ahmed Dirie should have known the truth [about al Shabaab] before, but I welcome his bravery in pointing out anti-peace groups," the ex-Mayor of Mogadishu said.

He condemned al Shabaab as a violent gang responsible for the deaths of many civilians, including the assassinations of prominent personalities like Mogadishu business association spokesman Abbas Mohamed Du'ale and aid worker Abdirahim Sheikh Ibrahim.

Source: Garowe Online


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