Although a US report on global terrorist networks has linked the Somali group Al-Ittihad Al-Islamia to Al-Qaeda, many feel that the charge is based on a misunderstanding of Somali religious culture. While Islam is the official religion of the country, in traditional Somali society, the influence and power of the clan overide that of politics and religion. Religious leaders have always remained distant from politics. They taught people about Islam and were judges and mediators in clan disputes, domestic squabbles and civil matters such as marriage and divorce.
In the late 1980s, many small Islamic groups sprang up in the country and gained some popularity. But most of them survived for only a short time. Al-Ittihad Al-Islamia, established as an umbrella organization for all radical groups, was an Islamist movement formed solely to gain political power through politicizing religion. This type of militant Islam was new to the Somali people who were not accustomed to mixing politics and religion.
After the downfall of the military regime in 1991, Al-Ittihad took full advantage of the country’s lack of government. It recruited many militiamen from different clans and established military bases in the northeastern region of Bosaso and other parts in the south which bordered Ethiopia. However, in a couple of years, it shared the fate of many other well-organized religious movements that were crushed by clan militias. In 1994, it was effortlessly wiped out in the northeast by clan-based fighters loyal to Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, a former warlord.
Similarly, Islamic Shariah courts — established by clan elders in North Mogadishu in 1994 — survived for only two years. Because of internal struggles and political confrontations, the court’s authority was weakened. In fact, the Shariah courts were originally very successful because of the absence of a functioning judiciary system. The court imposed harsh punishments on criminals and managed to restore some kind of law and order. This was, however, unacceptable to the local warlord and his allies who wanted to impose control using their own militias. After a long struggle, militias loyal to the warlord were triumphant and the courts halted operations in 1996.
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian government indicated its concern about attacks on its territory from Somalia-based Muslim fundamentalists. According to Ethiopian sources, Al-Ittihad launched numerous attacks from Somalia. Addis Ababa said that the group’s aim was the unification of southeastern Ethiopia with Somalia. The group also allegedly helped Ethiopian separatist elements. For those reasons and because of the absence of a functioning government in Somalia, Ethiopian troops have, since 1996, gone into Somali territory in pursuit of Al-Ittihad. There are reports that Ethiopian troops have occupied Al-Ittihad strongholds in southern Somalia and defeated its armed followers.
Somali sources say that the US accusations of Al-Ittihad’s connenction with Al-Qaeda comes at a time when the group has lost its strength. Its fighters were driven out of their main stronghold by Ethiopian troops which led to its members joining their clan-based militias. The remnants of Al-Ittihad’s militia were reportedly stationed on Kudha Island near the Kenyan border. Many commentators believe that these Islamists are not in a position to assist Al-Qaeda or any other terrorist group in worldwide operations.
Some analysts insist that America acted on inaccurate information about the strength of Al-Ittihad and the nature of Somali religious culture which detests any radical ideology. The US should thoroughly investigate the influence of Islamic fundamentalism in the country before launching any military action.
