Somalia Islamists take new port

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4797573.stm

Somalia Islamists take new port
Somali gunmen
The Islamist militia are making gains across Somalia
The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) has consolidated its hold on Somalia's central coastline taking another port.

Reports from the town of Hobyo say heavily armed Islamic courts militiamen moved in at dawn without any fighting.

The Islamists have taken control of most of central and southern Somalia since seizing the capital in June after defeating an alliance of warlords.

Attempts have so far failed to get the transitional government and Islamic courts to Sudan for peace talks.

The town of Hobyo is close to the autonomous Puntland region, whose administration is hostile to the Islamic courts.

It has warned its population against supporting the Islamist advance.

Welcome

Hundreds of fighters travelling on armed pick-ups arrived in Hobyo at dawn, according to reports.

Ali Mohammed Ghedi
Ghedi is now wanting to talk to the Islamic courts

"We did not capture it but we reached the people of Hobyo to bring them our message of peace," an Islamic officer who wanted to remain anonymous told AFP news agency.

At the weekend the UIC took control of Harardhere and Eldher ports - both of which have been used as a base for piracy.

The internationally recognised interim government controls only the central town of Baidoa, but is supported by Ethiopia, which says it will intervene if Baidoa is attacked.

The Islamists also claimed some 100 government fighters defected on Wednesday to Burhakba from Baidoa with seven armed pick-up trucks.

Interim President Abdullahi Yusuf is from Puntland and is a long-time ally of Ethiopia.

His prime minister, Ali Mohammed Ghedi, has said the will now participate in peace talks, after earlier being reluctant to enter dialogue with the UIC, a stance that led to mass resignations from his government.

But the UIC refuse to go to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, for talks unless all Ethiopian troops leave Somali soil - though Ethiopia denies any of its troops are in Somalia.

A visiting Kenyan delegation recently urged the UIC to avoid any escalation of hostilities in Somalia and take part in talks.

Somalia has had no effective central government since the ousting of dictator Siad Barre in 1991.

[michael_ital]

damm, these guys are kicking ass, and taking names.

"The Islamists also claimed some 100 government fighters defected on Wednesday to Burhakba from Baidoa with seven armed pick-up trucks."

Question is, will the P Land militia follow suit?

[Steeler [Crawler2]]

"damm, these guys are kicking ass, and taking names."

OK a word of caution. Hobyo is Haber Gedir terrirory and the Courts are Haber Gedir based. Also, Hobyo is not a port, it is a coastal town. It has no port facitilies.

"The Islamists also claimed some 100 government fighters defected on Wednesday to Burhakba from Baidoa with seven armed pick-up trucks."

Remember to apply Somali math to these reports. This means about 10-20 guys and 2-3 pick ups.

"Question is, will the P Land militia follow suit?"

Unlikely. The Courts might draw more Hawiye, but not likely to attract much Darood support. If they do, however, that's it. Game over.

[michael_ital]

My thinking is that as the Darood come to the realization that A/Y is a lame duck (which i'm SURE they already have) they'll back the winner. In this case, the IUC.

LooooooooL @ "Somali Math"

[eyes-only]

MAD MAC, stop talking qabiil sh!t. The Islamic courts have nothing to do with qabiil. It took them ages to establish an Islamic court in Sheikh Dahir AweysÂ’s birth place. There was an ceyr warlord in the warlord alliance. It took many days of talks and with that clan as much as it took with all other clans such as the murusade, abgaal and digil and mirifle etc. This is a totally different movement which although seeks the approval of local clans is not formed to serve the local clans but to ensure the clan members adhere to Islamic law.

In terms of the P land as you call it, there are many supporters of the Islamic courts in that region. Many supporters have been arrested and they have even banned from showing public support for the courts. The Islamic courts are not interested in Puntland as long as they do not attack the courts.

[Sir-Luggoyo]

Mike,




I assure you Mad Mac doesn't know Somalis more than you do. He spent (according to him) few months in Mog in 1993 and he was "based" in the kitchen flipping hamburgers for his fat soldiers and he never witnessed combat, don't fall for his made-up "intelligence" reports.

P-Land will get in line once Afbiijo is defeated (either politically or forcefully) all P-Land is watching is where/how the tossed coin (the forthcoming Khartum talks) falls

[X.Playa]

eyes only ,

Mad Mac got it right, fact is the entire 11 courts which make up the so called ICU (Islamic Court Union) are all Hawiye. Fact is Hawiye just exchanged " static Isbraao(Check Point) into mobile Isbaaro with a Quran and islamic rosery.

Things will change as soon as the courts move out of Hawiye territories, Somalia's true religions is tribe and the Darood will never see these courts as nothing but Quran and gun tauting Mooryaans.

Same goes for Isaaq, now few days ago the disputed region of Somaliland southern Sool (las Anod) declared a seprate enties called "Darwiish-Land" few days ago even micheal itali was carrying their horse flag.They are sperate from both Somalilan and Puntland adminsterations, they went so far to pledge alligence to the ICU movement a move that would compel Ethopia to give somaliland the go ahead.

The goverment of Ethopia had given the green light for the Somaliland army to capture Laas Caanood , soon or later you will see major wars in Somalia if the Islamist both in Somaliland and Puntland join those of South.

The question is would Puntland islamist join the Hawiye, if they doo then the entire south will fall, if they don't tribal war will ignite if the Hawiye don't stop within their tribal borders south of Galkayo.

[afdhere]

mac is right. hobyo is a small town. not even city. it has less than 20K people. there isn't even a 'laami'

and, for the record, the courts are strictly hawiye. and soon, daarood and isaaq terrorists are going to join them

afdhere

[eyes-only]

X. playa, the Islamic council is not made up on only 11 courts and is growing my the day. There are also other non Hawiye quite powerful and senior members. I donÂ’t know what you are going on about.

Anyone that needs the green light from Ethiopia will surely have their own problems. The Islamic courts have experience of beating warlords that had the green light from America. I donÂ’t think minor things such as that are going to be an issue.

I say, wait for an Islamic court for Puntland or Somaliland, or even beesha Majeerteen or Isaaq to be established before panicking that the Islamic courts are going to attack Somaliland or Puntland. That is not how the courts operate. First, they engage in talks with the clan leaders, then they establish the Islamic court run by locals, then they help in its implementation.

[michael_ital]

quote "I say, wait for an Islamic court for Puntland or Somaliland, or even beesha Majeerteen or Isaaq to be established before panicking that the Islamic courts are going to attack Somaliland or Puntland. That is not how the courts operate. First, they engage in talks with the clan leaders, then they establish the Islamic court run by locals, then they help in its implementation."

This is a REALLY good point. It makes more sense for them to proceed this way, as opposed to using force.

[AbdiWahab252]

The UIC are CAyr run operations. The goal of the UIC is to spread Cayr domination over Somalia. The courts of the UIC are simply a smoke screen to provide the perception that they are indigenous operations representing each clan. The reality the franchise courts are lackeys and operatives of the DahirAweys, CabdiQassim and Indocaade agenda.

The Cayr have made moves towards the Heartland of my Sacad nation. Their actions will not go unpunished. What amazes me is that I would never think that one day it will be the Majeerten and Sacad fighting together against the Hawiye ilk lead by Cayr.

ONE CENTRAL QUESTION REMAINS: Why are those who call for Makhmaads in illegaly Cayr occupied lands in Barawe, Balcaad, Marka and Kismayo are getting arrested ? Is the Makhmaad philosophy only applicable to areas where the Cayr are NOt in charge ?

[COSTA]

Amiin Amiir tells the reality and the Hypocrisy of the ICU aka unIslamic
Ceyr Union check the second picture its their leader Aweys and his cousin

http://www.aminarts.com/

[X.Playa]

eyes only,

Are you that blind to see the 99% of the IUC are Hawiye, driven by hawiye interest. In fact they are getting arrogant by stating they don't recognize the athority in Puntland and Somaliland...

The IUC is like the old lady who couldn't carry the bundle fire wood and asked for more.

You are ignorant of Somali politics, it already has began the so called Darwiish land is nothing but a Dhulbahnate driven court...

But then what you know you are too local

[Lacageylacag]

Only Darods have not formed Islamic courts.But many fought for the courts and support the courts.

The Issaq fall under "Dir" they have Al-Nasri islamic court under Sheikh Ibrahim Suley...the Imam of Sheikh Ali Sufi in Mogadishu.

Digil and Mirifle Have the powerful Al-Bayan islamic court.
Hawiye have many smaller courts.

The small(0.5) clans have formed their own islamic courts.

THE ICU IS KICKING SOME REAL MUNAFIQ ASS!