General information
First Active Year: 2009
Current Name: Hizbul Islam
Current Name full English: Islamic Party
Current Name full native language: Hizbul Islam
Original Name: Hizbul Islam
Original Name full English: Islamic Party
Original Name full native language: Hizbul Islam
Actor Chronology
This section contains information about (if applicable) group splinters, name changes, and alliances according to the UCDP definitions of these concepts.
Joined Actor: Al-Shabaab (Al-Shabaab)
On: 2010-12-21
Conflict issues
Government of Somalia - Hizbul Islam
Conflict Goal Issues: Hizbul Islam, Islamic Party, was an Islamist Somali nationalist rebel group that emerged as an opposition coalition of several large Somali Islamist rebel groups in 2009. Due to the group being made up of several previously existing rebel groups, the movement was very factional by nature, but official statements from the group still alluded to several conflict goal issues. During the year of the group’s creation, it stated its intentions to establish an Islamic state in Somalia through jihad which would be ruled under Islamic (Sharia) law. They also criticized the secular constitution of Somalia which was established by former Islamist leader of ARS-Djibouti, now Somali President Sheikh Sharif, calling the new government “the same” as the previous government. Due to this, the group stated its intentions to oust the government, which they also stated their non-recognition of Sharif’s sitting government. Finally, the group emphasized its desire to protect Muslim religious rights.
In the following year, the group’s final coded year as they were defeated by al-Shabaab in 2010, the group reemphasized its intentions to establish an Islamic state with Sharia law, although the other issues were not restated explicitly. Instead, Hizbul Islam called for President Sharif to step down, for the issue of piracy and opposition groups to be tackled to establish law and order in Somalia, and for the continued desecration of cultural heritage sites in the form of clerics’ graves by al-Shabaab. The group also called for freedom of expression and other rights to be infringed, threatening journalists and men who did not grow out their beards.
The main conflict goal issues of Hizbul Islam were the establishment of an Islamic state in Somalia and the implementation of Sharia law. These issues were continuously stated throughout the group’s brief existence and were heavily emphasized in statements.
Conflict Dynamics Issues: During the year of Hizbul Islam’s emergence, the group stated several conflict dynamics issues. They accused both the Somali military and African Union peacekeepers of abuses and atrocities against civilians and combatants alike and called upon the international Muslim diaspora to travel to Somalia to join the fighting: “We welcome any Muslim who is ready to help us kill non-Muslims and wants to join us in jihad.” The group also made several statements toward the international community, calling for the withdrawal of African Union forces, Ethiopian political influence, and U.S. influence and military support from Somalia.
During the second year of conflict, the group reemphasized its accusations of foreign troops massacring civilians and restated its calls toward the international community to withdraw its military forces, military support, and political influence from the country. Calls toward international Muslims were also made, as they stated that “they invited Osama to come to the country if he could and also called Jihadists in the world to come and join their fight against the Somali government and the African Union troops.”
Due to the brief duration of conflict, and the fact that almost all issues were stated in both years with similar levels of emphasis, no particular issue was interpreted as more salient than others for Hizbul Islam, which could either imply that none, or all, of the conflict dynamics issues were their main issues.
Conflict Resolution Issues: Hizbul Islam stated three conflict resolution issues during its first year of existence, calling for negotiations and national dialogue to be implemented in the country provided the African Union mission was removed from the country. The group also stated its opposition to a proposed call for ceasefire by the Somali government in 2009.
Type of conflict issues: The coded conflict issues for this group are: Conflict Goal Issues: Bureaucratic setup, Change judicial system, Constitutional issues, CPS: Islamic state, Destruction of cultural heritage, Law and order, Oust full executive, Oust head of the executive, Religious rights, Restriction of gender rights, Restrictions on freedom of expression
Conflict Dynamics Issues: Atrocities and abuses, DFI: Removal of foreign influence, DFI: Withdrawal of military intervention/foreign forces, DFI: Withdrawal of military support, IFI: Support from diasporas/foreign fighters, Military conduct
Conflict Resolution Issues: Call for ceasefire, Call for negotiations, National dialogue
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
2009
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Somalia - Hizbul Islam
Al-Shabaab - Hizbul Islam
2010
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Somalia - Hizbul Islam
Al-Shabaab - Hizbul Islam
Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca - Hizbul Islam
Group Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
2009 Group Archive
Government of Somalia - Hizbul Islam
Comment on Name: Hizbul Islam brought together ARS/UIC (Asmara faction), Harakat Ras Kamboni, Jabhatul Islamiya and Anole.
Comment on Troop Size: Although it is said to be impossible to ascertain the exact troop strength of Somalia's insurgent actors, an October 2009 estimate placed the total number at 5000-10 000. It is important to note that this toll is not specific to Hizbul Islam, but includes also other Somali insurgent forces, such as Al-Shabaab.
Secondary Support: According to a report by the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia, Eritrea was responsible for arranging the return to Somalia by air of Hizbul Islam leader Hassan Dahir Aweys, in order to strengthen the group in preparation for its May 2009 Mogadishu offensive against TFG and AMISOM forces. Eritrea, in fact, had also facilitated the group’s 2009 formation. Prior to his return to Somalia, Eritrea had hosted Aweys, as well as providing him and the group with financial support.
In addition to providing material/logistic and funding/economic support, it is also likely that Eritrea supported Hizbul Islam in other capacities during the year. In the past several years, according to the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia, “…the government of Eritrea has provided significant and sustained political, financial and material support, including arms, ammunition and training to armed opposition groups in Somalia…”
Al-Shabaab - Hizbul Islam
Comment on Name: Hizbul Islam brought together ARS/UIC (Asmara faction), Harakat Ras Kamboni, Jabhatul Islamiya and Anole.
