Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki explained

Hassan Abdullahi al-Turki
Native Name:حسن عبد الله حرسي التركي
Birth Date:[1]
Birth Place:Ogaden
Death Place:Hargeisa Yarey, Middle Juba
Resting Place:Dhobley, Afmadow
Years Active:1989—2015
Organization: al-Itihaad al-Islamiya
Islamic Courts Union
Ras Kamboni Brigades
Hizbul Islam (Until 2010)
Al-Shabaab
Criminal Status:Terrorism

Sheikh Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki (Somali: Hassan Abdullah Hirsii al-Turki, Arabic: حسن عبد الله حرسي التركي الجامعة; – 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

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. 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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: OFAC Recent Actions. https://web.archive.org/web/20150905154058/https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20100413.aspx. 5 September 2015.
  2. Web site: Pham. J. Peter . J. Peter Pham. Islamist Radicals Still on the March in Somalia . Harowo.com . 26 October 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061108170253/http://harowo.com/2006/10/26/islamist-radicals-still-on-the-march-in-somalia/ . 2006-11-08. dead.
  3. News: 7 March 2008 . Somalia; 'Muslims Are Being Massacred' - Mayor . Africa News . Garowe Online.
  4. West. Sunguta . 11 July 2006. New Islamist Leaders Emerge in Somalia . Terrorism Focus. 3. 27. Jamestown Foundation. 3. https://web.archive.org/web/20061016200833/http://jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2370058 . 2006-10-16.
  5. Web site: 2015-07-18 . Sheekh Xasan Turki oo Mas'uul Ka ahaa Dilkii Baadari Salvador Colombo Loogu Geystay Magaalada Muqdisho. . 2024-04-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150718113239/https://somalimemo.net/articles/2931/Sheekh-Xasan-Turki-oo-Masuul-Ka-ahaa-Dilkii-Baadari-Salvador-Colombo-Loogu-Geystay-Magaalada-Muqdisho . 18 July 2015 .
  6. Ereli. Adam . J. Adam Ereli. 3 June 2004. Designation of Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki under Executive Order 13224. United States Department of State. 2007-09-04.
  7. Web site: Yusuf . Aweys Osman. 3 October 2006. Somalia's Islamic Courts attain Afmadow in Lower Jubba region. Shabelle.net . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200835/http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne1505.htm . 2007-09-27. usurped.
  8. Web site: Farah. Mohamed Abdi . 23 September 2006. Somalia: Islamic militants advancing to Kismayo . SomaliNet. 15 September 2021.
  9. Web site: Farah. Mohamed Abdi . 25 September 2006 . Somalia: Islamists shooting kills people in Kismayo protest. SomaliNet . 15 September 2021.
  10. News: Daskal. Jennifer . Jennifer Daskal. Lefkow. Leslie . 28 March 2008. Off-target . Los Angeles Times. 15 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210214004902/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-mar-28-oe-daskal28-story.html. 2021-02-14. live.
  11. Web site: 2010-02-01 . Shabaab absorbs southern Islamist group, splits Hizbul Islam FDD's Long War Journal . 2024-04-01 . www.longwarjournal.org . en-US.
  12. News: Hassan. Yusuf M.. Somalia: Islamist Groups Merge to Fight Sheikh Sharif . allAfrica. Garowe Online. 4 February 2009. 15 September 2021.
  13. News: Nor. Mohamed Sheikh . 28 May 2015. Al-Shabaab Leader Linked to al-Qaeda Dies in South Somalia. Bloomberg News. 15 September 2021.