Ras Kamboni Brigades

Ras Kamboni Brigades
Participant in Somali Civil War
Active	2007-2010
Ideology	Islamism
Groups	Mohamed Zubeir Ogaden sub-clan
Leaders	Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki
Headquarters	Ras Kamboni
Area of operations	Southern Somalia, Jubbaland
Strength	500-1,000[1]
Originated as	Islamic Courts Union
Became	Hizbul Islam (2009-2010) al-Shabaab (2010-) Raskamboni movement (2010-)
Allies	Al-Shabaab, Jabhatul Islamiya, Muaskar Anole
Opponents	Transitional Federal Government, ARS-Djibouti  Ethiopia, AMISOM

The Ras Kamboni Brigades also known as the Ras Kamboni Brigade, Muaskar Ras Kamboni or Mu'askar Ras Kamboni was an Islamist insurgent group active in Somalia (mostly in the Jubbalands), which took part in the anti-Ethiopian insurgency and later in the insurgency against the new Transitional Federal Government of Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. It was founded by Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki, who was a commander of the Islamic Courts Union and the commander of its predecessor Itihaad al Islamiyah.^[2] In January 2009, after the Ethiopian withdrawal they merged with the Asmara-based wing of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia, led by Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, Jabhatul Islamiya ("Islamic Front"), led by Sheikh Mohamed Ibrahim Hayle and Muaskar Anole ("Anole School") to form Hizbul Islam and continue the war against the TFG.^[3] During the 2009 Battle of Mogadishu, where in Hizbul Islam took part, Hassan Turki led a group of fighters from the Ras Kamboni Brigade from Kisimayo to Mogadishu as reinforcements, to join the battle.^[4]

In February 2010, the group left Hizbul Islam and joined Harakat al-Shabaab Mujahedeen.^[5] After Sheikh Hassan al-Turkey joined al-Shabaab, defecting commander Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam "Madobe" left the organisation to form his own anti-al-Shabaab militia, the Raskamboni movement.

References