Hiiraan Online
By Shafi’i Mohyaddin
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Somalia’s Moderate Islamists known here as ‘Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a have today lauded for the arrival of Ethiopian forces in the country as part of the African Union peace keeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
The moderate Islamists, themselves fighting with Al Shabaab have made the announcement during a congregation in the south western town of Baidoa to show their support for the Ethiopian forces integration into AU Mission in the country.
The group’s secretary General in charge of the coordination of Ahlu Sunna’s operations south of the country, Sheik Ali Nur Mohamed Idiris told the meeting in Baidoa today that his moderate group was lauding for the move which he said will help the sudden oust of Al Shabaab out of the country.
“We request the Ethiopian forces to quicken their Anti-Al Shabaab operations to remove the remnants of the terrorist group from more lands in south Somalia still under their control, Sheik Ali Nur Mohamed Idiris told Thursday’s meeting which was mainly intended to show support for the arrival of Ethiopian forces as part of AU peacekeeping mission in the country.
“As Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a we are playing a key role in the fight against Al Shabaab and we see that the integration of Ethiopian troops into AMISOM was a major move forward which will help in the AU peacekeeping operation in Somalia become more successful” the moderate Islamist leader emphasised.
Earlier, the commander of Somalia’s armed forces General Abdirisak Khalif Elm lauded for the Ethiopian arrival and said was consolidating the war against the Al-Qaeda-linked AL Shabab militants fighting Somali government and AIU troops in the country.
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