- Leaders of Somalia's Islamist movement have for the first time exposed their agenda to export their brand of Islam to the whole world after they secure their power in all of Somalia. Since June this year, the Islamists have taken control of most of the country.
Talking to members of the Somali community living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday evening, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), and Colonel Yousuf Mohammed Siyad, Head of the UIC's Security Apparatus, said that their rapid victory in capturing large swathes of Somalia was "a gift from God" and that they aspired to spread their message worldwide once Somalia was secure in their grip.
This was the first time that the Islamists, based in Mogadishu, had spelled out their agenda to export their revolution to other countries, surprising some of those attending the evening gathering at Renaissance Hotel in Dubai.
"This was a brazen and shocking statement," said an attendant, who preferred to remain anonymous, "it is crazy to talk about exporting their revolution when they face many challenges in Somalia," he added.
In an attempt to appeal the patriotic feelings of the audience, the UIC leaders said that hundreds of Ethiopian forces were pouring into Somalia with the aim of capturing the whole country up to the port Kismayo. "They (Ethiopians) are against the application of Islamic Sharia in Somalia and it is the duty of every Somali to participate in a jihad against the infidel Ethiopian forces," said Sheikh Sharif.
Ethiopia and Somalia have fought several bloody wars over the Ethiopian Ogaden region, mostly inhabited by Somalis. In Somalia, the western neighbours are seen as arch-rivals and an Ethiopian engagement in Somalia is believed to mobilise a large proportion of the population to those wanting to fight them.
On their talks with Somalia's weak Transitional Federal Government (TFG) lead by Abdallah Yusuf, Sheikh Sharif said that their fundamental difference was the application of the Islamic Sharia. "They (TFG) want to rule the country by a man-made constitution and we want to rule the country by the Allah's holy book. We are not going to compromise on applying God's rule," he added, noting that even the TFG’s civilian constitution was flawed.
"Somali scholars such as the US-based Professor Abdi Ismail Samatar have told us that the TFG constitution has been drafted by ignorant people and cannot be basis for a good government," he added.
Regarding Somaliland and Puntland, Sheikh Sharif said that they viewed the two entities differently. "Puntland is an autonomous state and we are negotiating with them to join the UIC. However, we understand the grievances of Somaliland and we want to tell them our readiness to address these historical mistakes," he said, underlining his group's insistence on preserving the Somali unity.
Sheikh Sharif said their visit to Dubai was part of an Arab tour to explain their cause and achievements to the Arab world. Independent reports also said that the two UIC officials had met Somali parliamentary Speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden in Dubai with the UAE mediation.
The Islamist website 'Qaadisiya' also quoted Sheikh Sharif as saying that he was about to meet General Adde Muse, Leader of Puntland, who was also visiting Dubai but his tight schedule did not allow him.
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