Somalia President: Al-Qaeda now 'a colonial power'

Somalia's President wants Al-Qaeda listed as a colonial power in the Horn of Africa country following its announcement of a merger with Al-Shabaab, the radical Islamist group, in Somalia last week.

"We must identify Al-Qaeda as the last colonial power that invaded our country,” said President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed while speaking Sunday at a function in southern Mogadishu to enhance social integration in the war torn city on Sunday.

Britain and Italy were the country's colonial rulers before Somalia got its independence in 1960. Now President Ahmed wants Al-Qaeda added to that list in what may be an attempt to rally sentiment against the extremist group that controls significant pockets of the country.
President Ahmed has expressed his doubts over peace talks with the group.

"Al-Shabaab’s move to join Al-Qaeda erodes all hopes for peace talks,” said the President, who was clad in military combat attire and wielded a black stick.

Mogadishu mayor Mohamoud Ahmed Nur alias Tarzan said that Al-Shabaab’s union with Al-Qaeda was an indication that the Islamist movement was split. (Read: Al-Shabaab says has closed ranks with Al-Qaeda)

"I believe that Godane (popular name of the leader of Al-Shabaab, Sheikh Mukhtar Abdurahman Abu Zubayr) led a minority of the fanatical movement to join Al-Qaeda,” said Mayor Nur. "I urge the majority of Al-Shabaab loyalists to come forward and unite the TFG."

No impact

On Saturday, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, the spokesman of the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) said the merger between Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda, the Afghanistan and Pakistan based Islamist umbrella would not have an impact on Amisom’s peacekeeping efforts.

Talking to Shabelle, an independent media in Mogadishu, Lt Col Ankunda said that the reports contained no new disclosures.

"It is not new to hear Al-Qaeda and Al-Shabaab having the same objectives,” said Lt Col. Ankunda.

He added that the international community was expected to assist the transitional government and Amisom in clearing Al-Qaeda from Somalia, given the African Union mission’s stated objective is the pacification and stabilisation of Somalia.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Salad, the chairman of the Supreme Religious Council (SRC) in Somalia, has warned that the merger between the militant groups could stand as a fresh threat to Somalia’s independence.

Talking to Radiyo Muqdisho, a state-run broadcaster, Sheikh Salad stated the merger was not a surprise since their aims were similar.

However, the cleric noted an immediate threat posed by the union.

"The new formation is likely to deepen [the] security hazard against innocent people,” he said, adding that militant desperation may lead to increased suicide missions and other indiscriminate attacks.