Thread by @HarunMaruf

On 17 Feb 2021 I tweeted about the emergence of self-organised, anti-Al-Shabaab militias known as Ma’awisley who have been sighted in parts of Lower Shabelle region - in the vicinity of Leego, Yaaq Bariweyne, Beled Amiin & in areas around Ballidogle airport. I’ve update on this:

Al-Shabaab has now launched counter-offensive against Ma’awisley and have targeted communities they suspect are supporting them, burning homes and destroying charcoal trucks. Significant number of civilians have fled to Wanlaweyn town from Yaq Bariweyne and surrounding areas.

Why? Al-Shabaab doesn’t want to see another force against their ideology to operate in the area. The militias are well armed; they erect checkpoints to solicit funds to fund their operations. They collect money from trucks carrying commercial goods and charcoal trucks both.

But commercial truckers are not happy with the militias because they don’t want to pay on top of govt taxes and AS extortions. When businesses refused to pay them the militias reportedly attacked 3 vehicles. Owners of the businesses reportedly complained to the govt and AS, both.

Meanwhile, one of the reasons local militias are reportedly fighting against Al-Shabaab, apart from defending their community, is because these militias themselves reportedly receive payments from charcoal business people who frequently use the area to cut trees.

Ironically AS has been attacking people who are cutting trees and have destroyed charcoal trucks. There are two reasons - charcoal business is partially benefiting locals including the militias. Secondly, cutting trees is leading to deforestation which denies AS jungle hideouts.

In other words, Ma’awisley are reportedly protecting charcoal truckers while Al-Shabaab is protecting commercial truckers, according sources. Wanlaweyn area has become a graveyard for charcoal trucks destroyed in AS attacks, with some people losing their lives.

Meanwhile, number of homes in Yaq Bariweyne and several smaller villages were reportedly burned down by AS. Some reports say houses caught fire from burning charcoal but others say AS torched homes deliberately to displace communities close to Ma’awisley. (This is Yaq Bariweyne)

Previously Ma’awisley operated in Middle Shabelle & Hiran regions and had initially scored gains against AS. But AS counter attacked and killed some of their leaders. Despite promises to support Ma’awisley by the government, local fighters haven’t attracted lot of attention.

Some observers are skeptical of federal level support to local militias fearing that may divert resources from building national army. But history teaches that in Somalia local forces always had some degree of success against AS. For example:

The now defunct Sufi militias in central Somalia, the local forces in Qoryoley, and in Mahaday in mid 2000s, the local forces in Bardale vicinity before Southwest was established. There are many who genuinely believe that local mobilisation will only benefit federal level action.

History also teaches us that AS struggles wherever there is a functioning local administration, even if that administration is run by a respected elder(s). If locals get federal-lever support they will be the first to defend their interests, some observers argue.

But the trust between Ma’awisley and federal operations was dented in recent years because AU and federal forces captured number of areas, i.e. Mahaas, El-Bur, Adan Yabaal, Tiyeglow, Fafahdhun and others, only to withdraw, which risks the lives of locals who cooperated with them.