Tuesday April 15, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Ali Jeyte Osman, commander of Somalia’s Ma’awisleey community defence forces, has accused Hawiye clan leaders of obstructing and failing to support ongoing military campaigns against the Al-Shabaab militant group in central and southern Somalia.
Speaking Tuesday during a high-level clan conference in Mogadishu, Jeyte said that while his own Hawaadle clan has consistently fought Al-Shabaab in regions like Hiran, other Hawiye clans have been reluctant to provide military or logistical support. Some, he claimed, have even obstructed operations.
“When we chased Al-Shabaab fighters into Hawiye areas, we were blocked from pursuing them. We weren’t asking for help, but we were still insulted by some officials who went on the radio to discredit us,” Jeyte said.
“In our fight against the Khawarij, some Hawiye clans stood by and watched,” Jeyte said, using a derogatory term often employed by the Somali government to describe Al-Shabaab. “When we pursued the militants, we were blocked from entering certain areas. We weren’t even asking for support—yet officials went on the radio to insult us.”
He warned that the absence of coordinated support among Hawiye communities was allowing Al-Shabaab to regroup and prolong the conflict.
“It’s a disgrace to look away while your people are being killed. We must unite against the enemy,” he said. “We have a plan to eliminate Al-Shabaab, but unless there is genuine unity, these gains will slip away.”
Jeyte said that the current operation in Aboorey was an example of a situation where only the Hawaadle had mobilized, leaving other Hawiye clans on the sidelines.
The meeting, attended by prominent Hawiye leaders, was convened to discuss political and military cooperation against Al-Shabaab. The remarks reflect growing tensions within Somalia’s fragile federal structure, where clan-based politics often influence national security efforts.
The Ma’awisleey militia, formed in 2022 as a grassroots defence initiative, has played a key role in supporting federal forces in reclaiming territory from Al-Shabaab. However, longstanding clan divisions, political rivalries, and limited resources continue to hinder nationwide counterinsurgency efforts.