Dark shadows on Somalia

With the joining hands of two hitherto adversarial militant groups, Somalia is heading towards further instability. Already the security situation in the troubled country is precarious.

With Al Shabab and Hizbul Islam coming together as a combined force, the situation is likely to further deteriorate. The merger, expected to take place this month also brings in its wake the promise of more attacks on the African Union peacekeeping force in the country. Attacks in Uganda and Burundi owing to the states’ contribution towards the forces are also on the militants’ agenda. An Al Shabab spokesman Sheik Ali Mohamud Rage has also voiced the intent to invite foreign fighters from across the world to join the insurgency which is expected to double in strength 
after the merger. 

The pitch is that the Shabab-Hizbul Islamic forces are fighting an apostate government backed by foreign powers. Al Shabab as well as Hizbul Islam have branded the use of the Islamic card from some time now. While both groups were engaged in fighting each other previously, the new development is likely to prove a blow to Mogadishu. Read More