Sheikh Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki (Somali: Hassan Abdullah Hirsii al-Turki, Arabic: حسن عبد الله حرسي التركي الجامعة, born c. 1944 – died May 27, 2015), or "Al-Turki"–"The Turk", was a Somali Islamist and was military leader Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya.
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]
On June 3, 2004, Al-Turki was designated, under US Presidential Executive Order 13224, for terrorist financing.[3]
On September 23, 2006, Al-Turki forces approached Jilib, en route to Kismayo. Juba Valley Alliance forces withdrew without a fight.[4] After the city fell, on September 24, he promised peace to the city after Islamic militiamen broke up an anti-Islamist demonstration with gunfire, killing three teenagers.[5] (Also see: Juba Valley Alliance: War In Somalia) Al-Turki addressed people in Kismayo telling them the region would be under the Islamic law. “This city is seized by Islamic forces including all tribes of Somali men, welcome to the new peace brought to this city and I promise you will live in security and prosperity,” Sheikh Hassan Al-Turki reportedly said.[6]
He was later targeted in a US fighter jet strike on March 2, 2008. US fighter jets struck the southern Somali town of Dobley. The bombings by the AC-130 gunships targeted two homes in the town that were allegedly visited by Turki, who is believed to have ties to al-Qaeda.,[7]
Al-Turki was the leader of an insurgent group named the Ras Kamboni Brigades.[8] The group merged with three other resistance groups, including Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys', Asmara based, wing of the ARS to form Hizbul Islam.[9]
Al-Turki died of an undisclosed illness on May 27, 2015.[10]
References
- ^ Islamist Radicals Still on the March in Somalia Archived 2006-11-08 at the Wayback Machine Harowo.com, October 26, 2006
- ^ New Islamist Leaders Emerge in Somalia Archived 2006-10-16 at the Wayback Machine Jamestown Foundation
- ^ Designation of Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki under Executive Order 13224 US Department of State
- ^ Somalia: Islamic militants advancing to Kismayo Archived 2011-08-09 at the Wayback Machine SomaliNet
- ^ Somalia: Islamists shooting kills people in Kismayo protest Archived 2011-08-09 at the Wayback Machine SomaliNet
- ^ Flag of the Caliphate Now Flies Over Kismayo September 25, 2006
- ^ US gunships attack southern Somali town, witnesses say : Africa World
- ^ http://allafrica.com/stories/200904120005.html
- ^ http://allafrica.com/stories/200902050135.html
- ^ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-28/al-shabaab-leader-linked-to-al-qaeda-dies-in-southern-somalia