Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys was born in the Galgaduud region of Somalia between 1935
and 1943. He is a member of the Ayr sub-clan of the Habargadir group of the Hawiye
clan. Although not the most powerful sub-clan in Somalia, Ayr is reportedly one of the
most powerful clans in Mogadishu.
Aweys began preaching Wahhabi ideology in the late 1970s, but he first achieved
notoriety as a Somali colonel decorated for bravery in 1977 during Somalia’s war with
Ethiopia.
Several sources indicate that he was a “prisons Colonel,” although his
citation for bravery and his later position as Military Chief of al-Ittihad al-Islami suggest
that he assumed an operational role during wartime.
Al-Ittihad al-Islami (Islamic Unity, AIAI), established in the early 1980s, was one
of several Islamist organizations that sought to overthrow Siad Barre, Somalia’s dictator
of 22 years. The organization began its ascent in the Gedo region of Somalia, a
crossroads for Islamic fundamentalists.
In the absence of effective government services, AIAI offered protection for businesses and localities, established schools, and provided rule-of-law in a country ravaged by warlords. Sheikh Hassan Aweys served as both a spiritual and military leader for the increasingly profitable and powerful organization. In both of his roles, Aweys promulgated AIAI’s ultimate goal of establishing an Islamic caliphate in the horn of Africa governed exclusively by sharia law.
Sheikh Hassan Aweys established the first Islamic court in the southern region of
Mogadishu following AIAI’s retreat from Gedo. In 1999, he became the head of the
Southern Mogadishu Islamic Courts, and used the courts to promote Islamist goals
similar to those of AIAI.
On June 24, 2006, Sheikh Hassan Aweys was appointed to the
senior leadership role in the Council of Islamic Courts (formerly referred to as the Islamic
Courts Union), a collection of previously disassociated courts.
The Council of Islamic Courts has two administrative bodies: an executive committee of 8 persons recently headed by the more moderate Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, and an 80 person shura, or decision-
making body, led by Aweys.
In this position, Aweys was one of the most influential individuals in Somalia. He used his position to contest the transitional government in Somalia, prior to the Ethiopian-backed military intervention which expelled the Islamists from Mogadishu in December.
With the status of the Council of Islamic Courts in flux, and Sheikh Hassan Dahir
Aways’ personal future in jeopardy, his next role is uncertain. In February, 2006, on a
jihadi website, Aweys purportedly authorized the use of suicide terrorism to attack targets
in Ethiopia and Kenya.
Aweys walle waa nin halgaan dheer ah ku jiro.
AIAI...waa urur meelkaste ey xugumaan nabad iyo kala dambeyn keena ...Merca, Lugh, Dolow, Bosaso, Laasqorey, Xamar etc.
Markaste-na Amxaar iyo soomali qabiil dardarey baa nabada iyo diinta ka soo horjeesto.
Haddana Cabdullahi yusuf baa naf ka raadsatay? Nin maqaarsaar ah?
