Midowga Maxkamadaha Islaamiga
اتحاد المحاكم الإسلامية Ittihād al-mahākim al-islāmiyya Supreme Islamic Courts Council |
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Motto: There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God | ||||||
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Capital (and largest city) |
Mogadishu | |||||
Official languages | Somali and Arabic | |||||
Government | Sharia krytocracy | |||||
- | Shura Chairman | Hassan Dahir Aweys | ||||
- | Executive Chairman | Sheikh Sharif Ahmed | ||||
Counter-Government | Sought to establish unified Somali government | |||||
- | Established | June 6, 2006 | ||||
- | Dissolved | December 27, 2006 | ||||
Currency | Somali shilling (SOS ) |
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Time zone | EAT (UTC+3) | |||||
- | Summer (DST) | not observed (UTC+3) | ||||
Internet TLD | .so | |||||
Calling code | 252 (Somalia) |
The Islamic Courts Union (ICU, Somali: Midowga Maxkamadaha Islaamiga, Arabic: اتحاد المحاكم الإسلامية Ittihād al-mahākim al-islāmiyya) was a group of Sharia Courts who united themselves to form a rival administration to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, with Sharif Sheikh Ahmed as head of the ICU. They are also known as the Joint Islamic Courts, Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), Supreme Islamic Courts Council (SICC)[1] or the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC)[2] and Western media often refer to the group as the Somali Islamists.
Until the end of 2006, they controlled most of southern Somalia and the vast majority of its population, including most major cities such as Jowhar, Kismayo, Beledweyne, and the capital Mogadishu. The ICU was supported by warlord Yusuf "Indho Ade" Mohamed Siad who ruled Lower Shabelle but later became defense chief of the ICU, who aided in the defeat of the Mogadishu warlords.[3] Only the Northern regions (Puntland, Somaliland), and the furthest interior regions of the south were outside their control. In December 2006, the ICU lost much territory after defeats at the battles of Baidoa, Bandiradley, and Beledweyne, retreating to the capital, Mogadishu. On December 28 they abandoned Mogadishu, leaving the city in chaos while they moved south towards Kismayo, which allowed the TFG and Ethiopian troops to take over the city. After a stand at the Battle of Jilib, the ICU abandoned the city of Kismayo on January 1, 2007. Stripped of almost all their territory, it is speculated the ICU will pursue guerrilla-style warfare against the government.[4]
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After the collapse of the Somali government in 1991, a system of sharia-based Islamic courts became the main judicial system, funded through fees paid by litigants. Over time the courts began to offer other services such as education and health care. The courts also acted as local police forces, being paid by local businesses to reduce crime. The Islamic courts took on the responsibility for halting robberies and drug-dealing, as well as stopping the showing of what it claims to be pornographic films in local movie houses. Somalia is almost entirely Muslim, and these institutions initially had wide public support. The early years of the courts include such outfits as Sheikh Ali Dheere's, established in north Mogadishu in 1994 and the Beled Weyene court initiated in 1996. They soon saw the sense in working together through a joint committee to promote security. This move was initiated by four of the courts - Ifka Halan, Circolo, Warshadda and Hararyaale - who formed a committee to co-ordinate their affairs, to exchange criminals from different clans and to integrate security forces. In 1999 the group began to assert its authority. Supporters of the Islamic courts and other institutions united to form the ICU, an armed militia. In April of that year they took control of the main market in Mogadishu and, in July, captured the road from Mogadishu to Afgoi.[5] Their system of government, controlled by judges, is known as a krytocracy.
According to the United Nations and various sources, the Eritrean government started to arm and finance ICU for many years.[6] Along with Ethiopian rebel groups such as the OLF, according to a BBC 1999 report, Eritrea sent "shiploads" of arms to the ICU and other rebels in Southern Somalia. It is also reported that the Eritrean government sent "Eritrean advisers" and "engineers and mine-laying experts."[7] After many denials from the Eritrean government, the debate ended when Islamic Courts Union leader Aweys admitted that the Eritrean government had been assisting the ICU;[6] although there was no mention of Eritrean troops or advisers. After the Somali transitional government defeated the Islamists and took Mogadishu, the Somali Prime Minister alleged Eritrean soldiers were captured in Mogadishu.[8] Additional Eritrean fighters were allegedly killed by Somali security officers in June 2007.[9] A governor of one of Somalia's southern districts further confirmed the continued alliance of Eritrean fighters with Al-Qaeda & ICU militants.[10]
According to Los Angeles Times, various ICU fighters were caught before they tried to escape to Eritrea. Many of the ICU leadership and jihadist leaders are believed to have found refuge in Eritrea.
Various foreign fighters were said to be helping the ICU. Particularly since suicide bombing tactics are not common even among extremist Somali Muslims, the rise of self-sacrificing bombers indicated deeper foreign jihadist assistance. In January, Somalia said they defeated as well as arrested many Arab fighters.[11] Also in June, many foreign pro-ICU fighters were trying to run away by boats when they were detected in the Puntland region. The governor of the region told the media that the Islamist fighters arrived to cause trouble and assured that the Puntland troops were searching for them.[12] The U.S. military also targeted more jihadist and Al-Qaeda cells, particularly those affiliated with the bombers of U.S. embassy in Kenya in 1998.[13] According to BBC, the Pentagon said a high level Al-Qaeda member from the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) was captured in Somalia and transferred to the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay.[14][15]
In the year 2000, the courts formed a union of Islamic courts, partly to consolidate resources and power and partly to aid in handing down decisions across, rather than within, clan lines.[16] Yet the ICU remained firmly established in the Hawiye clan.[17]
As the courts began to assert themselves as the dispensers of justice they came into conflict with the secular warlords who controlled most of the city. In reaction to the growing power of the ICU, a group of Mogadishu warlords formed the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT). This was a major change, as these warlords had been fighting each other for many years. By the beginning of 2006, these two groups had clashed repeatedly, and in May 2006 it escalated into street fighting in the capital, claiming the lives of more than 300 people. On 5 June 2006, the ICU claimed that they were in control of Mogadishu.[18]
Meanwhile, in the United States the Bush administration neither confirmed nor denied support for either side. However, it was reported that American officials had anonymously confirmed that the U.S. government was funding the ARPCT, due to concerns that the ICU is linked to al-Qaeda and is sheltering three al-Qaeda leaders involved in past terror attacks, including the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.[19]
On 6 June 2006 the ICU further claimed it was in control of all the lands up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) inland from Mogadishu. The warlords were reported to have either been captured or to have fled the city, abandoning most of their weapons, with the majority fleeing to Jowhar, which was taken by the ICU militia on 14 June.[20] This brought the ICU in control of much of the weaponry in the country, which made a resurgence by the warlords difficult without outside support. The ICU also controlled significant territory outside the capital, including the important town of Balad. In mid-August, ICU militiamen swept into the port town of Hobyo, 500 kilometers north of Mogadishu, meeting no opposition.[21] The ICU organized a clean-up campaign for the streets of Mogadishu on 20 July. This was the first time litter and rubbish had been collected in the entire city since it collapsed into chaos over a decade earlier.[22]
On July 15 2006, the Islamic Courts reopened Mogadishu International Airport, which had been closed since the withdrawal of the international forces in 1995. The first airplane chartered by the Arab League flew from the airport for the first time in 11 years picking up Islamic Courts delegates to the Sudanese capital of Khartoum.[23]
On August 15 2006, the ICU captured Harardhere, some 500km northeast of Mogadishu, which had become a safe haven for pirates, who had forced shipping firms and international organizations to pay large ransoms for the release of vessels and crews.[24]
On August 25, 2006 the Islamic Courts reopened the historic Mogadishu seaport, which had been one of the busiest in East Africa but had been shut down for the prior 10 years.[25]
In September, 2006, the Islamist Courts strengthened their control of Kismayo. The Somalis in Kismayo demonstrated againist ICU, shouting "No to Al-Qaeda operatives" but the ICU took control, shooting at protestors, killing at least three people and dispersing the crowd. [26]
On October 5, 2006 the Islamic Courts declared the formation of the supreme Islamic Sharia court of Banadir province, ending all tribal Islamic Courts in the capital.[27]
On December 8, 2006, the Islamic Courts Union claimed to have been involved in heavy fighting with Somali transitional government forces, backed by Ethiopian troops. On December 21, heavy fighting erupted between ICU forces and Ethiopian-backed forces. The battles happened initially in two areas - the military base of Daynuunay and the military base of Iidale.
The ICU made calls for jihad against Ethiopia,[28] which were met by international Mujahideen volunteers arriving in Somalia.
The ICU lost a considerable amount of territory after defeats at the December 20 - 26 battles of Baidoa, Bay region, Bandiradley, in Mudug, and Beledweyne, Hiran region, retreating to the capital, Mogadishu.
On December 27, 2006, after a brief skirmish earlier in the day at the Battle of Jowhar, the leaders of the ICU, including Sheiks Hassan Dahir Aweys, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Abdirahman Janaqow resigned in a capitulation recognizing the new state of affairs in Somalia. They issued the following decisions:
1. It is national duty to protect the sovereignty and the integrity of Somalia and its people.
2. The ICU allows that Somalis should have the option to determine their future and would be ready for taking over the responsibility.
3. The Islamic Courts Union agreed not to allow anyone to create violence in Mogadishu and anybody that is found guilty would be brought before the law and would be taken for the suitable punishment according to the Islamic Sharia.
4. The ICU fighters are responsible for establishing the security and stability in the Somalian capital Mogadishu.
5. Lastly, the ICU is calling on all the Islamic fighters in Somalia, where ever they may be, to maintain security and stability in their localities and get ready in the police stations and other security installations.[29]
On December 28, the ICU withdrew from the capital. Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamad Gedi stated the legislature would shortly declare a period of martial law.
After abandoning control of Mogadishu, leaders from the ICU proceeded to fortify the Jubba River valley area including the towns of Jilib and Kismayo. Days later, on December 31 Ethiopian and Somali forces attacked Jilib, after which ICU forces abandoned Kismayo.
In January 2007, as the ICU retreated, its leaders vowed to wage guerrilla war. They were pursued to Ras Kamboni, where they were militarily engaged by Ethiopian and Somali TFG forces. Kenyan and US forces enforced a border patrol and naval blockade, followed by US airstrikes against suspected Al Qaeda members embedded within the ICU militias.[30]
On January 10, a report by Somali presidential chief of staff, Abdirizak Hassan stated the US airstrikes had killed Al Qaeda member Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, and leaders of the Islamic Courts Union including Abduallahi Moalim Ali (former chief of security for Mogadishu), Abdirahman Janaqow, and a third unidentified person. The bodies had reportedly been recovered by Ethiopian military personnel.[31] Fazul Abdullah Mohammed was later confirmed by US forces to have survived the US air raid on 8 January, 2007.
After their fall from power, many ICU militiamen went into hiding. Attacks were carried out against Ethiopian and TFG troops, and the group was reformed as the Popular Resistance Movement in the Land of the Two Migrations (PRM).
Current Event: The ICU has undergone dramatic and rapid changes. Given their loss of control over Mogadishu and much of the rest of the country, this section may refer to the organization in the past tense. This reflects how the courts were run prior to their retreat from Mogadishu. However, the ICU is still an existing organization. The status of their leaders and their present organization may be subject to change and speculation.
The ICU is a union of Sharia law courts. These courts formed out of the chaos of the 1990s to administer justice in the districts in which they were established. Due to the chaos in Somalia, each court maintained a large militia to act as both police force and military. In February 2006, 11 of these courts chose to pool their military resources in order to take over Mogadishu. (See Second Battle of Mogadishu)
Each member of the ICU is a Sharia judge in charge of a specified court in a particular district of Somalia, and it is up to him to determine how Sharia law is enforced. These interpretations can either be very literal or very broad, with various Hadiths being either regarded or disregarded, and correspondingly has led to varying levels of liberty and repression. Some courts do not enforce beyond what the Quran requires; others have beaten people for watching Bollywood films and Western movies or playing "licentious" music. One famous allegation that was cited numerous times, yet was denied by the ICU, was that there was a ban on the viewing of football (soccer) matches.[32]
In order to organize the courts into a more coherent organization, rather than a like-minded collection of independent judges, a "Supreme Islamic Court of Banadir" was created, with the most senior judges forming this high court. This court dealt with wide issues, as well as foreign relations, and commanded the ICU military forces as a whole. The chairman of the Supreme Islamic Court is Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. A consultative Shura council chaired by Sheikh Hassan Aweys approved the decisions made by the Supreme Islamic Court, and therefore was called the "real power" in the ICU, though the Shura could not act unilaterally. In simplistic terms, this made Ahmed the "President" of the ICU and Aweys the "Prime Minister". When Ahmed was otherwise indisposed (visiting a foreign country, ill, etc.) Sheikh Abdirahman Janaqow was the Acting Chairman.
Below the Supreme Council and Shura Council are the regional courts spread throughout the country, which govern over the day to day issues of justice and law. These courts have enormous independence, and so the laws and regulations in ICU territory can vary wildly from town to town based on the particular moderation or radicalism of the local court.
ICU Chairman Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is seen as a moderate and repeatedly declared the objective of the ICU was the restoration of order after 15 years of violence. However, of the eleven courts composing the Union, two had reputations as radical. One was led by Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, who is on the U.S. list of terrorism suspects as the former head of the al-Itihaad al-Islamiya (AIAI) group. Western diplomats are also concerned by a second leader, Adan Hashi Ayro, who was trained in Afghanistan and whose militia has been implicated in the deaths of five foreign aid workers and a BBC producer. Suspects from the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings are believed to be hiding in Somalia, and to be aided by the ICU [1][2]. There were also been reports of foreign mujahideen fighting alongside the ICU. In response, the U.S. provided funding for the secular warlord alliance due to these fears. However, Somalia has little history of radical Islam and the ICU had not embraced the most extreme forms of Islamic law, such as amputation of thieves' hands.[5]
The Hizbul Shabaab, also known as Al-Shabaab, or simply as "Shabaab", is the Youth Wing of the ICU. It is a radical and somewhat independent organization under the ICU umbrella which is integrated quite tightly with the ICU armed forces, acting as a sort of "special forces" for the ICU.
The Shabab has caused difficulties for the ICU in maintaining a good international image on a number of occasions due to their hot-headedness and zealousness, such as abducting critical journalists, harassing overly-hip youngsters, and most infamously, murdering wounded JVA soldiers in a Bu'aale hospital.[33]
The ICU formally apologized for each of the incidents, and attempted to make it clear that these actions did not reflect ICU policy. Nevertheless, these incidents gave their opponents excellent propaganda ammunition, and aided the global perception of the ICU being like the Taliban.
The major powers in Somalia included the Transitional Federal Government, the Juba Valley Alliance (JVA) in the south, plus the autonomous Puntland in the northeast and self-declared independent Somaliland in the northwest. In the midst of the conflict, Galmudug was formed in direct response to stem the rise of the ICU. The ICU was opposed by all the other factions, except for Somaliland, which remained generally neutral throughout the conflict.
As a result of the collapse of the warlords' power, the four warlord representatives in the transitional government were stripped of their cabinet posts. The transitional government is based in Baidoa, 250 kilometers from Mogadishu. After the ICU victory in Mogadishu, the transitional government voted to request foreign peacekeepers from the African Union in a mission known as IGASOM. The African Union supports the transitional government, though it did not provide forces to defend it against the advances of the ICU. The ICU rejected the need for peacekeepers, arguing Somalia needs aid, not more external troops. The Interim Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi stated he wished to meet with the ICU leaders.[34] This resulted in the Treaty of Khartoum of 5 September 2006, in which it was agreed the ICU and the Transitional Government would be merged; however, the ICU insisted on the precondition Ethiopian troops would leave the country beforehand. Ethiopian forces did not withdraw, and the treaty agreement fell apart.
The JVA was overrun in the south, and Kismayo was taken. The remaining JVA forces aligned themselves immediately with the TFG. In December 2006—January 2007, as part of the TFG's army, they retook the lost territory of the south.
In November 2006 the Islamic Courts said Puntland's forces had carried out a pre-emptive strike against their fighters who were gathering on the edge of Puntland near Galinsoor.[35] The government of Puntland has vowed to resist any attack by the Islamic Courts.[36] Later, Puntland entered into combat with the ICU at the Battle of Bandiradley, which expelled the ICU from the central interior.
Court Name - Location | Clan Representation | Judge | Ideology |
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Court of Banadir for Returning Forcefully Taken Fixed Assets | Various | 11 judges chaired by Dr. Omar Abdalla Ali | Various |
Court for Verdict in Banadir | Various | 12 judges chaired by Abdirahman Hassan Omar | Various |
Court of Banadir Province | Various | 12 judges chaired by Dr. Hussein Abdi Elmi | Various |
Ifka Halan - Mogadishu, Banadir | Hawiye | Hassan Dahir 'Aweys' | Salafi |
Huruwa - Mogadishu, Banadir | Hawiye | ? | ? |
Suuq Xoolaha - Mogadishu, Banadir | Hawiye | ? | ? |
Karan - Mogadishu, Banadir | Hawiye | ? | ? |
Medina - Mogadishu, Banadir | Hawiye | ? | ? |
Towfiq - Mogadishu, Banadir | Hawiye | ? | ? |
SiiSii - Mogadishu, Banadir | Hawiye | Sharif Sheikh Ahmad | Sufi |
Harariyale - Mogadishu, Banadir | Hawiye | ? | ? |
Dabaqayn - Mogadishu, Banadir | Hawiye | ? | Salafi |
Polytechnic - Mogadishu, Banadir | Reer Shabelle (Non-Somali Minority) | ? | ? |
Gubta - Mogadishu, Banadir | ? | Abdalla Ali | Salafi |
Yaqshid - Mogadishu, Banadir | Hawiye | ? | ? |
Tabuuk - Mogadishu, Banadir | Hawiye | ? | ? |
Al-Hudaa - Mogadishu, Banadir | Shiikhaal | ? | ? |
Milk Factory - Mogadishu, Banadir | Hawiye | ||
Al Bayaan - Mogadishu, Banadir | Rahanweyn, Mirifle, Digil-Mirifle | Mohamed Ibrahim Bilal | |
Al-Furqan - Mogadishu, Banadir | Hawiye | Mohamud Mohamed Jimale Warsame 'Agaweyne' | |
Daynile - Mogadishu, Banadir | Hawiye | Hussein Janaqow | |
Shiirkoole (Circolo) - Mogadishu, Banadir | Hawiye | Abdilkadir Ali Omar | Salafi |
? - Marka, Lower Shabelle | Hawiye | Yusuf Mohamed Siyaad 'Indha Adde' | ? |
Al-Cadaala - Laascanood, Sool | Darod | Shiikh Axmed Cabdulaahi Shanle | ? |
? - Balad, Upper Shabelle | Hawiye | Sheikh Yusuf Turhume | ? |
? - Wanlaweyn, Lower Shabelle | Digil-Mirifle | Mahad Mohammed | Liberal |
? - Beletweyne, Hiraan | Hawiye | Farah Moallim Mohamud | ? (Qutubi?) |
? - Beletweyne, Hiraan | Hawiye | ? | ? |
? - Adado, Galgadud | Hawiye | ? | ? |
Alfaruq - Jalalaqsi, Hiraan | Hawiye | Mohammed Rashid Ibrahim | ? (Banned smoking,) |
? - Afmadow, Lower Juba | Darod | ? | ? |
? - Jilib, Middle Juba | Dir | Mohamed Omar Mursal | ? |
? - Barawe, Lower Shabelle | Dir | ? | ? |
? - Jawil, Hiraan | Hawiye | ? | ? |
? - Buulo Barde, Hiraan | Hawiye | Hussein Barre Rage | Salafi |
? - Bur Hakaba, Bay | Digil-Mirifle | Mustafa Ali Mohammed | ? |
? - Bardhere, Gedo | Darod | ? | ? |
? - South Galcayo, Mudug (Galmudug) | Hawiye | Abdullahi Siad Qeyre | ? |
? - North Galcayo, Mudug (Puntland) | Darod | Ahmed Yusuf | ? |
? - Kismayo, Lower Jubba | Darod | Hassan Turki | Salafi |
Imamu Shafici - Abudwaq, Galgadud | Darod | Ali Bashir | ? |
While the Transitional Somali government was still in Baidoa, various suicide attacks were targeted against the ministers by the ICU. After the defeat of the Islamic Courts Union, some suicide bombers were mixed with the insurgency against the Somali government forces and AU forces. In early May 2007, an ICU suicide bomber was caught by the African Union forces stationed at the Mogadishu seaport.[37] Another suicide bomber of the Islamic Courts Union also made a Martyr video tape adopting Al-Qaeda's tactics.[38] [39]The video showed a man praying from the Koran before bombing himself, exploding near Ethiopian troops and Somali government forces.[40] Another suicide bomber struck the Somali PM's house killing around 5 people and wounding many in June, 2007.[41] The Prime Minister was not harmed. In a sign of worsening conditions, a Somali Islamic leaders said "jihad is all we need. There is no political process we can be involved in unless we get a government practicing Sharia. Our aim is to liberate our country from the Christian invaders and those who assist them, and I assure you that the holy war against them will not stop until the Islamic flag is raised." [42]
The Islamic Courts' original mission was to bring social justice and combat iniquity. However, after capturing Mogadishu, its mission transformed into imposing Sharia law all over Somalia and changing the constitution.
In the year 2000, the courts formed a union of Islamic courts, partly to consolidate resources and power and partly to aid in handing down decisions across, rather than within, clan lines.[16]
In an interview featured in the BBC Online Somali section in June 2006, Sheik Sharif Shaykh Ahmed said "the union of Islamic courts was established to ensure that Somali people suffering for 15 years would gain peace and full justice and freedom from the anarchic rule of warlords who refuted their people to no direction." After capturing Mogadishu, the Islamic Courts had enacted a series of decrees and laws that had temporarily brought hope for Somali expatriates, local minorities and women.
The Islamic Courts Union (ICU) supported the idea of annexing territories controlled by Kenya and Ethiopia. The leader of the ICU, Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, said the land of ethnic Somalis living in Kenya and Ethiopia should be incorporated with Somalia, the old ideology of "Greater Somalia." He said "We will leave no stone unturned to integrate our Somali brothers in Kenya and Ethiopia." [49] Ethiopia and Kenya have historically resisted such Somali attempts before. While most African countries are made up of multi-ethnic societies, Somalia has been a rare exception where one ethnicity makes up almost 100% of the population. The Islamist leader said his group will "gain back the Somali provinces forcefully annexed to Ethiopia and Kenya." [50]
In November 2006, a UN arms monitoring group released information that all groups in Somalia were given logistical support by a dozen countries.[51] Those countries claimed those allegations. These are the allegations documented by the UN monitoring group:
On January 10, 2007, Kenyan North Eastern Provincial Commissioner (PC), Kiritu Wamae revealed the circulation of an intelligence report with the names of up to 4,000 Kenyan Muslim youths who were induced to join the ranks of the Somali Islamic Courts Union's jihad by offers of $400. The majority of the youths were from Garissa district. Scores were killed in the fighting. Others now seeking to return to Kenya may face treason charges. Leaders of the Council of Imam and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslim (Supkem) voiced vehement objections to the PC's allegations, and threatened to hold protests in a week.[52]
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