Raskamboni Movement Explained

Raskamboni Movement
War:Somali Civil War
Active:October 2009–present
Ideology:Islamism
Pan-Islamism
Leaders:Sheikh Ahmed Madobe[1] (Chairman)
Sheikh Dahir Ahmed Abdullahi (Deputy chairman)
Clans:Ogaden
Headquarters:Kismayo[2]
Area:Jubaland
Size:<1,000 (2010)[3] [4]
Predecessor: Ras Kamboni Brigades
Allies: Federal Government of Somalia
Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a
AMISOM
Opponents: Harakat al-Shabaab Mujahideen

Barre Hiiraale militia

The Raskamboni Movement was an Islamic movement led by Sheikh Ahmed Madobe, the current president of the Jubaland state in southern Somalia. After fighting with Al-Shabaab they managed to capture Kismayo with the help of Kenya.

History

Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia - Asmara wing (ARS-A) and JABISO militias, which were aligned with al-Shabaab in Hiiraan and Mogadishu refused to support the Ras Kamboni Brigades, meanwhile Muaskar Anole remained neutral. The fighting led to a split within the Ras Kamboni Brigades, with a faction led by Ahmed Madoobe fighting against al-Shabaab and a faction led by Hassan al-Turki siding with al-Shabaab.

The Battle of Kismayo was won by al-Shabaab, which then expelled Madobe's Ras Kamboni Brigades from the city.[5] In the battles that followed, in November 2009, Madobe's forces were overpowered by al-Shabaab and its local allies. It was then forced to withdraw from the Lower Jubba region and most of southern Somalia.[4] [5] In February 2010, al-Turki's branch declared a merger with al-Shabaab.[4]

On 20 December 2010, Hizbul Islam merged with al-Shabaab[6] and the Raskamboni movement then allied with Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a and the Transitional Federal Government.[7] [8]

The Raskamboni engaged al-Shabab militiamen on March 13, 2011, in the village of Dif. The movement claimed to have destroyed a number of Al-Shabaab military vehicles in the fighting,[9] which left at least five dead.[10]

On April 3, 2011, the Raskamboni movement, in conjunction with Transitional Federal Government forces and the Kenyan Air Force, captured the border town Dhobley from Al-Shabab.[11] [12]

In July 2012, it was reported that they staged a rescue operation to free four kidnapped aid workers from the Norwegian Refugee Council.[13]

In September 2012, a reconstituted Somali National Army assisted by AMISOM troops and Raskamboni militia reportedly re-captured Kismayo from Al-Shabaab insurgents during the Battle of Kismayo (2012).[14] [15]

In February 2014, Al-Shabaab militants launched a string of attacks in Kismayo targeting Raskamboni members, including an IED that tore through a vehicle carrying the group's members and killed several civilians.[16] On 19 February, Raskamboni militants began an intensive search operation in the city after the group's security chief, Isse Kamboni, was shot dead by one of his bodyguards, a former Al-Shabaab member. According to eye-witnesses, Raskamboni subsequently started hunting down Al-Shabaab suspects. Many Raskomboni fighters were seen patrolling the streets, and more than 150 civilians were detained at the local police stations in connection with Isse's assassination. Seven civilian deaths were also reported during the clampdown with some accusing the militia of using the clampdown as an excuse to stifle dissent.[17] Hundreds of elders and businessmen had earlier fled the city.[18]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pro-government forces seize Dif residence close to Kenya-border. Mareeg.com. 15 October 2014.
  2. Web site: Dissident Nation » Maintenance Mode. Dissidentnation.com. 15 October 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130925114249/http://dissidentnation.com/ras-kamboni-leader-appointed-to-run-kismayo-during-transition/. 25 September 2013.
  3. Web site: Shabaab absorbs southern Islamist group, splits Hizbul Islam. February 2010 . LOngwarjournal.org. 15 October 2014.
  4. Web site: Letter dated 10 March 2010 from the Chairman of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea addressed to the President of the Security Council . 16 & 17. 15 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20100524221930/http://somalitalkradio.com/2010/mar/un_report_somalia.pdf. 24 May 2010. live.
  5. Web site: Somalia: Al-Shabaab's Encirclement Strategy . allAfrica.com . 8 December 2009 . 19 August 2010.
  6. Web site: Somalia's Shabaab threatens Uganda, Burundi attacks - Yahoo! News UK. uk.news.yahoo.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20101227112053/http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20101223/tts-uk-somalia-conflict-ca02f96.html . 27 December 2010.
  7. Thomas. Matthew J.. 2013-07-01. Exposing and exploiting weaknesses in the merger of Al-Qaeda and Al-Shabaab. Small Wars & Insurgencies. 24. 3. 413–435. 10.1080/09592318.2013.802611. 143419941. 0959-2318.
  8. News: Somalia: Prominent Islamist leader joins Sufis . Mareeg Online . 26 March 2011.
  9. Web site: Shabelle Media Network : Shabakada Warbaahinta Shabelle. https://archive.today/20110724062540/http://www.shabelle.net/article.php?id=4475. usurped. July 24, 2011. Shabelle.net. 15 October 2014.
  10. Web site: Somalia: Fighting Rocks Parts of Jubba Region in Southern Region. Allafrica.com. 15 October 2014.
  11. Web site: Hiiraan Online . Government Forces Capture Dhobley Town . April 5, 2011 .
  12. Web site: Shabelle Media Network . Somali govt confiscates Dhobley after days of fighting . April 5, 2011 . usurped. https://web.archive.org/web/20110723071634/http://shabelle.net/article.php?id=5178 . July 23, 2011 .
  13. News: STRAZIUSO. JASON. Canadian aid workers rescued after gunfight in Somalia. 2 July 2012. The Globe and Mail. 2 July 2012. Associated Press. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120702181549/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/canadian-aid-workers-rescued-after-gunfight-in-somalia/article4384448/. 2 July 2012.
  14. News: Kenyan forces attack last remaining stronghold of al-Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia. 28 September 2012. Associated Press. 28 September 2012.
  15. News: Chonghaile. Clar Ni. Kenyan troops launch beach assault on Somali city of Kismayo. 28 September 2012. The Guardian. 28 September 2012.
  16. Keydmedia: Somalia: Kismayo residents fear new clan fighting
  17. Keydmedia: Ras Kamboni, tribal militias begin launching retaliation attacks on civilians in Kismayo
  18. Keydmedia: Somalia: Killings, Criminal acts are becoming more widespread in Kismayo