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In order to understand the position of Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa (ASWJ) in the recent Garowe II Somali meeting and also the recent claims made by Sheikh Aydurus and Sheikh Hassan Garaad of the southern Somalia ASWJ, Somalia Report spoke to Sheikh Mohamed Mohamud Yusuf Aw-libah, ASWJ’s central Somalia chairman, who claims leadership over southern Somalia faction as well.
His authority over the southern Somalia faction, located largely in Gedo, has been recently challenged by Sheikh Aydurus and Sheikh Garaad, who claim to speak on behalf of the organization, and actively oppose the London conference.
Welcome, Sheikh. In the recent meeting in Garowe that you attended, people saw ASWJ boycotted while the meeting was progressing. What was the problem?
Thanks for the welcome, ASWJ boycotted the meeting because we were not in agreement with our partners in the meeting with regard to two points:
First, the proposal that Somalia be reduced to eight provinces, as it was before the time of the Siad Barre government, and that all other provinces created by Siad Barre be nullified.
Second, the powers of the prime minister to be reduced and those of the president increased. ASWJ totally rejected these two points and because the other parties took a hard stance and stuck to these points, particularly the Galmudug president (Mohamed Alin), we were forced to boycott. But after a series of negotiations spearheaded by the international community and other Somali parties in the meeting, the two points were removed and we came back to the meeting. The meeting ended very well and ASWJ signed the Garowe principles, and we are happy with the way things turned out.
Prior to your arrival in Garowe, we heard your flight was delayed due to internal political wrangling with ASWJ representatives in southern Somalia. Can you please explain to us what happened?
There are people who are not members of the administration of ASWJ, they have created chaos by trying to claim to be part of the administration. But finally the issue was solved because the overall Chairman of ASWJ, Hersi Mohamed Hilowle, was in Nairobi and solved the issue.
Recently, people claiming to be the senior officials of ASWJ in southern Somalia held a press conference at the Grand Royal Hotel (in Nairobi) and opposed the Garowe meeting and the upcoming meeting in London. The officials (Sheikh Aydurus and Sheikh Hassan Garaad) accused the UN special envoy to Somalia (Augustine Mahiga) and president Sharif of handpicking you to attend the London conference. What do you say to that?
Like I have told you before ASWJ has a well-defined administrational structure in Galgudud. There has was a meeting held in Abudwak (last year) that was attended by the international community, in which an election was held and Hersi Mohamed Hilowle was elected as the overall ASWJ chairman. He nominated me as the legitimate chairman of the southern Somalia ASWJ, so you cannot come and challenge my position thinking that ASWJ’s hierarchy of administration is weak. That is what I have concluded from what Sheikh Aydurus said and Sheikh Hassan Garaad said; they keep on complaining about my position, they are the ones who are causing our struggle to be set back. They went with us to the UNPOS (UN Political Office for Somalia) office in Nairobi with the overall chairman and they were told that I am the right person.
I am sorry, but they don’t have the ability to challenge the Garowe meeting and the upcoming London conference because they don’t have the powers to do so. They don’t hold any position within ASWJ. They can talk and make their views known, like any Somali citizen, but they cannot claim any position or oppose any meeting on our behalf. If they do so no one will listen to them.
Who will attend the London conference on behalf of the southern Somalia ASWJ?
Well this is not a question to debate on, it’s clear and they knew that I had been invited to go to London. The TFG president and (UN Special Representative) Dr. Mahiga have little influence when it comes to ASWJ internal affairs. We make our own decisions.