Ahlu Sunna militia elects new leadership

30 Jan 30, 2010 - 1:54:34 PM



Somalia’s pro-government Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa group elected a new leader on Friday 29, Jan 2010, in Guriel district in Galgadud region in Somalia.

Sheikh Mohamed Yusuf Hefow garnered the votes of 31 members of Ahlu Sunna administration to take over from the old chief. Sheikh Mohamed Omar Roble was elected as the deputy chief of Ahlu Sunna Islamists group.

In a press briefing shortly after his election, Sheikh Hefow announced that his group will maintain the good relation with the Somali government, vowing to continue with the fight against Al-Shabaab and Hizbul militias, the two main insurgent groups.

"We will continue fighting Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam in all the Somali regions and there is no conflict between us and the government, our aim is to liberate our religion and the people" said Sheikh Hefow.

Chief of lawmaker Sheikh Omar Abdukadir said the elected leader was to finish Ahlu Sunna’s meeting in Galgadud region.

"We are not Politician’s, we don’t want to impose authority, what forced us to fight is to protect the enemy from Allah’s religion" said Sheikh Omar.

The group, which controls much of central Somalia, has been engaged in bloody battle with the insurgent groups over the control of the central towns.

However, Ahlu Sunnah was infuriated by the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab’s undertaking of programme to destroy mosques and the graves of their revered religious leaders.

GAROWE ONLINE