- NAIROBI, Kenya: A senior official with one of Somalia’s two main insurgent groups says both forces plan to merge in an effort to defeat the weak UN-backed government.
The Islamic Party’s head of operations Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus told The Associated Press on Sunday the Islamic Party will join forces with the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabab militia and fight under Al-Shabab’s name.
Fighters from the Islamic Party have clashed with Al-Shabab several times, including over control over the port city of Kismayo.
The Islamists hold most of south-central Somalia and much of the capital. So far they have been unable to seize the port, airport or government headquarters, which are protected by an African Union peacekeeping force.
