SUMMARY

SNF – MSAB (Somali National Front/ Mohamed Sheikh Ali Buraleh faction) is a splinter organisation that originated from within SNF (Somali National Front). The spit, which occurred in 1998, came after the leadership of SNF decided to side with Hussein Aydeed and USC/SNA (United Somali Congress/Somali National Alliance). This alliance was not tolerable to a portion of SNF’s members, who felt that lining up with Aydeed and USC/SNA was a step in the wrong direction. The most notable opponent of the alliance was Mohamed Sheikh Ali Buraleh. Given the development Buraleh, together with likeminded individuals from SNF, left the organisation and formed SNF – MSAB.

After the split, SNF – MSAB received support from Ethiopia, there were many rumours as to what extent Ethiopia assisted SNF – MSAB, there has however not been any reports of Ethiopian involvement in the actual violence that SNF – MSAB has been involved in. soon after the split SNF – MSAB made the town Luq its headquarters. The reason for this was the Ethiopian military controlled the town, and it was hence a safe haven for the fighters from SNF – MSAB.

SNF – MSAB is, like the SNF mainly made up of people from the Marehan clan, a sub clan of the larger Darod clan, one of many clans in the clan-based society of Somalia.

SNF – MSAB has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.