Raskamboni Movement

The Raskamboni Movement (also known as the Raskamboni Front) is a non-governmental paramilitary group active in southern Somalia. It is led by Sheikh Ahmed Madobe. Raskamboni's members are opposed to the radical Islamist group Al-Shabaab.

Raskamboni Movement
LeadersSheikh Ahmed Madobe[1] (Chairman)
Sheikh Dahir Ahmed Abdullahi (Deputy chairman)
Dates of operationOctober 2009–present
Group(s)Ogaden
HeadquartersKismayo[2]
Active regionsJubaland
Size<1,000 (2010)[3][4]
Allies Federal Government of Somalia
Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a[5]
AMISOM
Opponents Harakat al-Shabaab Mujahideen
 al-Qaeda
Barre Hiiraale militia

History

The group has been involved in numerous armed clashes with al-Shabab militiamen. The Raskamboni engaged al-Shabab militiamen on March 13, 2011 in the village of Dif. The movement claimed to have destroyed a number of Al-Shabaab military vehicles in the fighting,[6] which left at least five dead.[7]

On April 3, 2011, the Raskamboni movement, in conjunction with Transitional Federal Government forces and the Kenyan Air Force, captured the border town Dhobley from Al-Shabab.[8][9]

In July 2012, it was reported that they staged a rescue operation to free four kidnapped aid workers from the Norwegian Refugee Council.[10]

In September 2012, a reconstituted Somali National Army assisted by AMISOM troops and Raskamboni militia reportedly re-captured Kismayo from Al-Shabaab insurgents during the Battle of Kismayo (2012).[11][12]

In February 2014, Al-Shabaab militants launched a string of attacks in Kismayo targeting Raskamboni members, including an IED that tore through a vehicle carrying the group's members and killed several civilians.[13] On 19 February, Raskamboni militants began an intensive search operation in the city after the group's security chief, Isse Kamboni, was shot dead by one of his bodyguards, a former Al-Shabaab member. According to eye-witnesses, Raskamboni subsequently started hunting down Al-Shabaab suspects. Many Raskomboni fighters were seen patrolling the streets, and more than 150 civilians were detained at the local police stations in connection with Isse's assassination. Seven civilian deaths were also reported during the clampdown with some accusing the militia of using the clampdown as an excuse to stifle dissent.[14] Hundreds of elders and businessmen had earlier fled the city.[15]

See also

References
  1. "Pro-government forces seize Dif residence close to Kenya-border". Mareeg.com. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  2. "Dissident Nation » Maintenance Mode". Dissidentnation.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  3. "Shabaab absorbs southern Islamist group, splits Hizbul Islam". LOngwarjournal.org. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  4. "Letter dated 10 March 2010 from the Chairman of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea addressed to the President of the Security Council" (PDF). pp. 16 & 17. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  5. "No Operation". Presstv.ir. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  6. "Shabelle Media Network : Shabakada Warbaahinta Shabelle". Shabelle.net. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  7. "Somalia: Fighting Rocks Parts of Jubba Region in Southern Region". Allafrica.com. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  8. Hiiraan Online. "Government Forces Capture Dhobley Town". Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  9. Shabelle Media Network. "Somali govt confiscates Dhobley after days of fighting". Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  10. STRAZIUSO, JASON (2 July 2012). "Canadian aid workers rescued after gunfight in Somalia". The Globe and Mail. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2 July 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  11. "Kenyan forces attack last remaining stronghold of al-Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia". Associated Press. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  12. Chonghaile, Clar Ni (28 September 2012). "Kenyan troops launch beach assault on Somali city of Kismayo". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  13. Keydmedia: Somalia: Kismayo residents fear new clan fighting
  14. Keydmedia: Ras Kamboni, tribal militias begin launching retaliation attacks on civilians in Kismayo
  15. Keydmedia: Somalia: Killings, Criminal acts are becoming more widespread in Kismayo
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