Saturday October 2, 2021
MOGADISHU (HOL) - Ahlu Sunna Waljamaa has accused the government of attacking them and deviating from the war against the militant group Al-Shabaab.
In an interview with the BBC Somali Service, the group leader Sheikh Mohamed Shakir said that his forces were attacked while visiting graves of their deceased clerics.
"We came to our areas to visit some graves of our clerics, and then we saw the problems of Al-Shabaab on the people, and we declared war on Al-Shabaab, and the Galmudug administration invaded us instead of fighting Al-Shabaab," said Shakir.
He, however, said his group was ready to negotiate with the Galmudug administration. The group, which has fought alongside Somali forces against Al-Shabaab, took control of Guriel in Galmudug and Mataban in the Hiiraan region on Friday.
The Federal Government has called for an end to violence. Prime Minister Mohamed Roble urged a cessation of hostilities noting the Galmudug administration had full authority in the region.
"There is administration in Galmudug that has full legitimacy and is responsible for the security of the Galmudug region, so any action that appears to be disrupting governance system in Galmudug should be avoided."
"The armed mobilization forces and attacks that threaten stability should be stopped," Roble said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has dispatched troops to Galmudug amid the ongoing standoff between Alhu Sunna and Galmudug government.
Two planes carrying the troops landed in Dhusamareb on Friday afternoon.