Hassan Abdullahi al-Turki
حسن عبد الله حرسي التركي
Born19 January 1944
Ogaden
Died27 May 2015
Afmadow
Resting placeDhobley, Afmadow
Years active1992—2015
Organization(s)Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya
Islamic Courts Union
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 leader of al-Itihaad al-Islamiya (AIAI) and later of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU).

Biography

Al-Turki was born in the Ogaden.[1] He hailed from the Reer Abdille subdivision of the Ogaden Darod clan. It is believed that al-Turki participated in the unsuccessful Ogaden War between Somalia and Ethiopia over control of the Somali-inhabited Ogaden region, and subsequently left the region to continue his revolutionary efforts in Somalia.[2]

Al-Turki claimed he had been released from prison in order to participate in the 1964 Ethiopian–Somali War.[3]

On 3 June 2004, al-Turki was designated, under US Presidential Executive Order 13224, for terrorist financing.[4] He later became a military leader of ICU, and was in charge of the Dhobley situated near the North Eastern Province.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] (Also see: Juba Valley Alliance § War in Somalia). Al-Turki addressed people in 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.[7]

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.[8]

Al-Turki was the leader of an insurgent group named the Ras Kamboni Brigades.[9] The group merged with three other resistance groups, including Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys' Asmara-based wing of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia, to form Hizbul Islam.[10]

Al-Turki died of an undisclosed illness on 27 May 2015.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Pham, J. Peter (26 October 2006). "Islamist Radicals Still on the March in Somalia". Harowo.com. Archived from the original on 8 November 2006.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ "Somalia; 'Muslims Are Being Massacred' - Mayor". Africa News. Garowe Online. 7 March 2008.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ 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)
  6. ↑ Farah, Mohamed Abdi (23 September 2006). "Somalia: Islamic militants advancing to Kismayo". SomaliNet. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  7. 1 2 Farah, Mohamed Abdi (25 September 2006). "Somalia: Islamists shooting kills people in Kismayo protest". SomaliNet. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  8. ↑ Daskal, Jennifer; Lefkow, Leslie (28 March 2008). "Off-target". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  9. ↑ "Somalia: Islamist Rebel Leaders Hail Pirate Attacks". allAfrica. Garowe Online. 12 April 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  10. ↑ Hassan, Yusuf M. (4 February 2009). "Somalia: Islamist Groups Merge to Fight Sheikh Sharif". allAfrica. Garowe Online. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  11. ↑ 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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