SUMMARY

In Somalia, tensions between Islamist groups and differing interpretations of Islam go back several years. The fighting between Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca (ASWJ) and Al-Shabaab pits those with a more radical, “jihadi”, interpretation of Islam (Salafi group Al-Shabaab), against ‘traditionalists’ (Sufi group Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca).

The fighting between Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca and Al-Shabaab erupted in 2008, in areas where Al-Shabaab made efforts to ban traditional Somali Sufi practices, igniting the conflict. UCDP has coded violent events between the two groups from December and onwards. Other sources indicate the groups may have clashed for the first time earlier that year, in July 2008. Further stoking the conflict, were Al-Shabaab’s public displays of destroying historically significant tombs of Somali Sufi saints, enraging ASWJ, and many members of the public. Clashes first broke out in various locations in south-western and central Somalia.

Around the time of the first clashes between the two groups, a statement by an ASWJ spokesman indicated that they were attacking Al-Shabaab because the group had desecrated sacred tombs, and assassinated religious leaders. These actions, according to ASWJ, were against Islam.

Since 2008, Al-Shabaab has become the main insurgent actor and has gradually taken over large swathes of territory. While Al-Shabaab controls most of central and south Somalia’s territory, effective attacks on behalf of ASWJ have succeeded in placing them of the defensive more than before. ASWJ is the only group on the side of the TFG that has had any significant success against Al-Shabaab. In some of its clashes against ASWJ, Al-Shabaab has collaborated with another Somali insurgent group, Hizbul Islam.

The non-state conflict between Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca and Al-Shabaab is first included in UCDP data in 2008. By December of that year, fighting between the two groups had resulted in over 25 battle-related deaths.