MOGADISHU - Somalia's Hizbul Islam (Islamic Party) has sacked its leader Dr. Omar Iman Abubakar for undermining efforts to build peace in the war-torn country.
"Dr. Omar Iman brought the party into a war without consulting any of the other leadership," spokesman Sheikh Daud Mohamed Abtidon told a press conference on Monday, March 23.
"He also went against the recommendations of the Islamic scholars whom we will go behind in every aspect."
The party launched deadly two-day attacks against Somali government troops and African peacekeepers in February, killing at least 100 people.
"Dr. Iman had always taken a unilateral move of war-mongering and went against all positive ideas, so that is why we have removed him from power," said Abtidon.
Sheikh Mohamed Hassan Ahmed was elected as the new party leader.
"The new leader will work with the Council of Somali Scholars and will abide by its call for halting the fighting," said Abtidon.
Somali scholars have called for halting violence in Somalia to help restore peace and security in the country.
Plaudits
The election of a new party leader won plaudits in the Horn of Africa country.
"We welcome this decision," senior party member Sheikh Yusuf Andae said, pledging cooperation with the new party leader.
Andae, a former member of the Islamic Courts Union, reiterated calls for enforcing Islamic Shari`ah and withdrawing all African troops from Somalia.
"We will achieve these demands through the Council of Islamic Scholars," he stressed.
Last February, Somali scholars called for the enforcement of Islamic Shari`ah in the country and the government accepted it.
The scholars also called for the withdrawal of the 3,500 African peacekeeping forces from Somalia within three months. The government has not officially accepted it.
Andae called for halting the fighting in Somalia, criticized the Al-Shebab, the only remaining group fighting the government troops.
Shebab has rejected the election of Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed as Somalia's president, describing his government as an illegitimate "puppet" administration put together by foreign powers.
During the press conference, scores of gunmen underscored commitment of abiding by the party's decision to halt fighting.
Rags were seen put on the opening of mortars, in sign of commitment of halting the war.
Banners were also hung at walls of the party's military posts in support of the scholars' call for halting the war.
Somali tribal leader also welcomed the election of new Hizbul Islam party leader.
"The commitment of the new leadership to halt the war will serve the best of the Somali people," Imam Omar Moalem said.
"Hearing the news of halting the war will send homeless Somalis back home."
Somalia has been without effective government since the ouster of former president Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.
