The leader of Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama in Central Somalia, Ma’alin Mohamud Shiekh Hassan Farah yesterday arrived in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital after the Somali gov’t asked him to come to Mogadishu.
The leader of ASWJ was greeted upon arrival at Adden Adde airport by Sheikh Mohamed Shaakir Ali Hassan, who is one of the senior members of the group. ASWJ leader has been out of the country in recent days but his base is in Bohol settlement in Galguduud province.
Local Media understand that Villa Somalia asked Ma’alin Mohamud to come to Mogadishu so as to strengthen the cooperation against the war with Al-Shabab militants. Ma’alin Mohamud, the leader of ASWJ is expected to hold meetings with Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
The Somali Federal Gov’t normalized ties with ASWJ in Central Somalia. The Somali gov’t did not have ties with the group for several years. Senior officers of ASWJ are exchanging their support to revive the political role in Galmudug and Somalia which the previous administration led by former President Mohamed Abdilahi Farmajo disbanded the group in 2020 and the ASWJ officials left the country.
Senior ASWJ officers returned to the country in Sept. 2021 and established a base in Bohol settlement which lies 25 km North of Dhuusamareeb, the administrative seat of Galmudug state. Although Sheikh Mohamed Shakir has been in Mogadishu since January, 2025, but ASWJ officers are currently mobilizing troops to back the Somali National Army (SNA) in the fight against the militant group of Al-Shabab.
Somali Army Chief, General Odawaa Yusuf Raage believes that Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama is important to defeat Al-shabab militants. ASWJ Forces have been fighting Al-Shabab militants in parts of Central Somalia for over ten years. ASWJ made areas under their control a buffer zone from A;-Shabab militants. It is reported that Al-Shabab militants do not like the war with ASWJ and the reason is that they fight with religious tenets.
