Tuesday October 19, 2021
DHUSAMAREB (HOL) - Tension is building up in Guriel town as Galmudug
forces mass up in the outskirts of the town ahead of an attack against
the Sufist group Ahlu Sunna Waljamaa which has held control of the town
for about three weeks now.
Sources said the Galmudug forces were readying for an offensive amid fears residents will be caught up in the clash between the two sides. Local activists warned last week a humanitarian crisis was fast unfolding as some residents had also moved out for fear of the impending military offensive.
Meanwhile, immediate former Galmudug security minister Ahmed Fiqi has claimed Wahhabi clerics had issued a fatwa to legitimize the killing of Ahlu Sunna members. Fiqi said in a Facebook post the clerics who adhere to a strict interpretation of Shari’ah and opposed to Ahlusuna’s religious ideology had declared war on the group.
"Wahabi clerics issued fatwa to attack Guriel, calling Ahlusunna Waljamaa idolaters and likened them al-Shabaab," said Fiqi.
He also accused Galmudug president Ahmed Qoorqoor of planning to attack Guriel at the time of Prophet Mohamed’s birthday.
Fiqi fell out with Qoorqoor whom he accused of choosing military means in resolving the Guriel issue.
The former security minister said he was ready to pursue dialogue with Ahlu Sunna.