Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki

Hassan Abdullahi al-Turki
حسن عبد الله حرسي التركي
Bornc. 1944[1]
Ogaden, Ethiopia
DiedMay 27, 2015(2015-05-27) (aged 70–71)
Hargeisa Yarey, Middle Juba
Resting placeDhobley, Afmadow
Years active1989—2015
Organization(s) al-Itihaad al-Islamiya

Islamic Courts Union
Ras Kamboni Brigades
Hizbul Islam (Until 2010)

Al-Shabaab
Criminal statusTerrorism

Sheikh Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki (Somali: Hassan Abdullah Hirsii al-Turki, Arabic: حسن عبد الله حرسي التركي الجامعة; c. 1944 – 27 May 2015) was a Somali Islamist who was a senior leader within al-Itihaad al-Islamiya (AIAI) and the Islamic Courts Union (ICU).

He later founded the Ras Kamboni Brigades which later merged into Hizbul Islam. In 2010 Turki joined Al-Shabaab. He died of illness during May 2015.

Biography

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Al-Turki was born in the Ogaden.[2] He hailed from the Reer Abdille subdivision of the Ogaden Darod clan. Al-Turki was a veteran of 1964 Ethiopian–Somali War[3] and the 1977-78 Ogaden War over control of the Somali-inhabited Ogaden region, and subsequently left the region to continue his revolutionary efforts in Somalia.[4]

Following his death, Al Shabaab released a statement claiming that Al-Turki was behind the killing of Salvatore Colombo, an Italian Catholic priest in Mogadishu in July 1989.[5]

On 3 June 2004, al-Turki was designated, under US Presidential Executive Order 13224, for terrorist financing.[6] He later became a military leader of ICU, and was in charge of the Dhobley situated near the North Eastern Province.[7] He also led ICU forces in the taking of Jubaland.

On 23 September 2006, al-Turki forces approached Jilib, en route to Kismayo. In a result, Juba Valley Alliance forces withdrew without a fight.[8] After the city fell, on 24 September, he promised peace to the city after Islamic militiamen broke up an anti-Islamist demonstration with gunfire, killing three teenagers.[9] (Also see: Juba Valley Alliance § War in Somalia). Al-Turki addressed the people of Kismayo, saying that the region would be under Sharia law. "This city is seized by Islamic forces including all tribes of Somali men and foreigners, welcome to the new peace brought to this city and I promise you will live in security and prosperity", he reportedly said.[9] He was later targeted in a US airstrike on 3 March 2008. The two Tomahawk cruise missiles hit two homes in Dhobley that were allegedly visited by al-Turki, who was believed to have ties to al-Qaeda.[10]

In February 2010, al-Turki officially merged the Ras Kamboni Brigades with Al-Shabaab, and split from Hizbul Islam formally pledging allegiance to Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.[11][12]

Al-Turki died of an undisclosed illness on 27 May 2015.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "OFAC Recent Actions". Archived from the original on 5 September 2015.
  2. ^ Pham, J. Peter (26 October 2006). "Islamist Radicals Still on the March in Somalia". Harowo.com. Archived from the original on 8 November 2006.
  3. ^ "Somalia; 'Muslims Are Being Massacred' - Mayor". Africa News. Garowe Online. 7 March 2008.
  4. ^ West, Sunguta (11 July 2006). "New Islamist Leaders Emerge in Somalia". Terrorism Focus. Vol. 3, no. 27. Jamestown Foundation. p. 3. Archived from the original on 16 October 2006.
  5. ^ "Sheekh Xasan Turki oo Mas'uul Ka ahaa Dilkii Baadari Salvador Colombo Loogu Geystay Magaalada Muqdisho". 18 July 2015. Archived from the original on 18 July 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  6. ^ Ereli, Adam (3 June 2004). "Designation of Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki under Executive Order 13224" (Press release). United States Department of State. Retrieved 4 September 2007.
  7. ^ Yusuf, Aweys Osman (3 October 2006). "Somalia's Islamic Courts attain Afmadow in Lower Jubba region". Shabelle.net. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ Farah, Mohamed Abdi (23 September 2006). "Somalia: Islamic militants advancing to Kismayo". SomaliNet. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  9. ^ a b Farah, Mohamed Abdi (25 September 2006). "Somalia: Islamists shooting kills people in Kismayo protest". SomaliNet. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  10. ^ Daskal, Jennifer; Lefkow, Leslie (28 March 2008). "Off-target". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Shabaab absorbs southern Islamist group, splits Hizbul Islam | FDD's Long War Journal". www.longwarjournal.org. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  12. ^ Hassan, Yusuf M. (4 February 2009). "Somalia: Islamist Groups Merge to Fight Sheikh Sharif". allAfrica. Garowe Online. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  13. ^ Nor, Mohamed Sheikh (28 May 2015). "Al-Shabaab Leader Linked to al-Qaeda Dies in South Somalia". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
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