Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, leader of the Somalia Islamic Courts Council (SICC) has declared that Somalis people are at war with Ethiopia and with Somalis interim government. This declaration made by the Islamic leader might spark a conflict across the horn of African continent.
The diplomats of western nations have expressed their fear of possible heavy fights between the SICC and its Ethiopian-backed interim government. The conflict would also start another regional war involving Ethiopia and its rival Eritrea as well.
Sheikh Hassan has reportedly said that all Somalis should take part in this struggle against Ethiopia.
The SICC exchanged heavy artillery fire with the interim government’s forces for the consecutive third day running.
This is the most persistent conflict so far in African continent between the rival Somali factions.
The factions are struggling to take control of the country that is still running in a state of anarchy since 1991.
On Tuesday, the SICC had said
Ethiopian troops are saving the inefficient government. They should either stop doing this or be prepared to leave the country or face holy war.
This created violence in the country later. Both sides claim to have killed hundreds but there is yet no confirmation of casualties.
Dinsoor, 62 miles south-west of the interim government’s base in Baidoa was the centerplace of the Tuesday conflict.
The SICC has claimed that it has been captured Idale, a town 37 miles south-west of Baidoa by killing 200 Ethiopian troops.
On the other hand, Somalia’s deputy defence minister, Salad Ali Jelle, has claimed that 71 Islamist fighters had been killed and 221 injured in three locations near Baidoa.
However, the Ethiopian government has said nothing on the declaration of war and denied its involvement in the fighting. At the same time, Reuters has reported that Ethiopian troops are heavily involved in the latest battles in Somalia.
Read
