Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia

Members of the Islamic Courts Union, Transitional Federal Government officials, Somali diaspora and prominent figures of Somali civic society united to form a political party in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea. Roughly 400 delegates of the Somali Congress for Liberation and Reconstitution, which included members such as ICU Executive chairman Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, former TFG Speaker of Parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, former Somali National Army General Jama Mohamed Ghalib, former TFG Deputy Prime Minister Hussein Mohamed Farrah, along with prominent members of women's groups approved a constitution and committee. The newly formed 191-member Central Committee was chaired by Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden.[2][4] Al-Shabaab would reject an invitation to join the conference and later condemned the alliance.[2] Reporters present for the creation of the ARS believed it was unlikely that the alliance would be Islamist-led, as the opposition would be hoping to draw on the broad political support and fundraising opportunities of the Somali diaspora.[5] Hassan Dahir Aweys explicitly stated he did not hold any formal position in the Alliance,[4] and the ARS would avoid giving him and other associated figures leadership positions.[2]

Despite assertions from outside observers that the ARS would not be Islamist led,[5] head of the ICU Sharif Sheikh Ahmed would be elected head of the alliance.[6] Prof. Ibrahim Hassan Addou, head of the ICU's foreign affairs department would be given the same position in the ARS. The alliance's Defence Secretary, Finance Secretary, Reconciliation Secretary and Justice Secretary positions were all staffed by former ICU officials. Members of civil society and the TFG would staff other positions in the ARS.[2]

To the surprise of many observers, the ARS immediately took a militant stance on the Ethiopian presence in Somalia and declared war on Ethiopian military forces in the country. The alliance further decried the African Unions newly established peacekeeping operation, AMISOM, as an occupation force and demanded its withdrawal.[6] The ARS would put out a communique on its position soon after stating:

“Resistance to the occupation is a legitimate and sacred right. It is a national duty as well as a religious obligation for all citizens,”[6]

The ARS outlined its main objectives as follows:[2]

• Liberating Somalia from Ethiopia
• Promoting Somali solutions through dialogue and peaceful means
• Combating crimes and violence against civilians
• Facilitating the resettlement of displaced people
• Organizing general elections once peace and security are established
• Establishing a National Government

Notably, the alliance announced it would refuse to engage in talks with the Transitional Federal Government unless Ethiopian forces withdrew from Somalia.[6] Days following its formation, the US ambassador to Kenya and the US envoy to Somalia both publicly dismissed the ARS as an unimportant organization.[7]

Al-Shabaab accused the ARS of assassinating one of its leaders on 20 September 2007. Mukhtar Robow, a senior leader in the organization, would proclaim in an interview with Somali media that day:[8]

"[The] Shabaab Movement will struggle to please God, and to kick out the enemy from the country. We know that the Asmara alliance has been given a condition of assassinating some members in the Shabaab Movement, so that they can be given recognition by the non Muslims..."

On 30 September 2007 the ARS claimed responsibility for committing an attack for the first time. Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) troops in Mogadishu were reportedly attacked in two locations in the city.[1] The following year Sharif Sheikh Ahmed would confirm reports that the alliance had begun receiving financial support from the Egyptian government.[9]