Former defeated warlords prepare war on Islamic courts

(SomaliNet) Former ousted governor of Beledwein in central Somalia Yusuf Ahmed Hagar known as ‘Daba-Ged’ and the former ruler of Jowhar town, some 90km north of the capital Mohamed Omar Habeb ‘Mohamed Dhere’ are making recruits in Sarirale area near the border with Ethiopia on Saturday.

Reliable sources from there say both men were regrouping to make counter attack on Hiran and middle Shabelle regions in central Somalia where the Islamic Courts control.

Large number of Islamic militiamen was reported to have departed from Beledwein town heading to Sarirale area near the border with Ethiopia where the allied militia commanders are present.

The fear is that major conflict might happen there between Islamic fighters and the rearranged militia loyal to defeated leaders who went Ethiopia for seeking military help to enable to get back to their positions.

The Islamists continues to extend their power in central Somalia and now they are advancing on Galkaayo, the capital town of Mudug region.

Meanwhile, the Islamic courts dissolved the former non-armed national troops in El-Gal compound in the outskirt of Beledwein town saying that any forces that are not in the Islamic Courts will have more difficult on staying in Beledwein.

Mohamed Abdi Farah