The leader of Somalia’s Hizbul Islam group, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys says his group has different ideology compared to Al-Qaeda-inspired Al-Shabaab, which stands for strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Aweys said the two groups however share common stand on the holy war, warning that any dispute between them will derail the course to realize an Islamic rule in the war-torn country.

Sheikh Aweys

“It is not good for the group to look down on the other groups, which are involved in the fight to liberate the country and the people. It will have huge impact on the holy undertaking,” he stated.

He adds, “If the dispute escalates and every group decides to do things on its way, then the whole global jihad thing will be mislaid. And that is what I am warning about.”

The 65-year old cleric has also called on civilians mostly in the capital Mogadishu to persevere the difficulties of the war against the fragile UN-backed Somali government, apologizing for the shortcomings of his group’s fighters.

“The fighters can do mistakes because most of them are not well versed with the religion. So its our responsibility as leaders to apologize on their behalves. We are also calling on civilians to front their complains,” he said.

Sheikh Aweys was the top chief of the Islamic Courts Union in 2006, which seized control of Mogadishu from CIA-funded warlords.

His co-leader, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, moved on to become the president of the UN-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG), while former ICU fighters joined Al Shabaab, an ally of Al Qaeda in the Horn of Africa, according to Western intelligence services.

GAROWE ONLINE