Sunday, June 20, 2010
Somali Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Professor Abdirahman Hajji Aden Ibbi told reporters in Mogadishu that the negotiations between both sides have been under way for the past several weeks.
“The talks are on going smoothly and we are very hopeful that Hezbal Islam which has no ties to Al Qaeda will totally change its policies and will join the Somali government,” Aden Ibbi said.
“The 50th anniversary of Somalia’s independence is approaching and before it comes we hope that the Somali flag will be raised in areas under the control of Hezbal Islam. This means that they are not against the country’s independence and sovereignty,” he added.
The negotiations between the Somali government and the rebel group comes as tension has been mounting between the two main rebel groups in Somalia ; Al Shabab and Hezbal Islam, with the Al Qaeda proxy (Al Shabab) taking over more regions from their former allies, who seem be losing more lands to the more radical Al Shabab.
Al Shabab are also now advancing into more cities and towns currently administered by Hezbal Islam in a bid to seize them before the Somali government occupies them.
Both Islamist rebel groups were united in fighting against the Somali government, but became divided over the control of the key port town of Kismayo, about 500 kilometres south of the capital which fell into the hands of Al Shabab in October last year after a long combat between them.
Source: APA