Union
Of Islamic Court Controlled in Baladweyn Town .
Residents in the city of Beledweyne, the capital of the
province of Hiiraan are facing a new reality today after fighters
belonging to the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) seized control of the city
hours after Ethiopian troops withdrew from the city. For the first time
over a year, ICU fighters are openly patrolling the city streets.
Leaders of the ICU addressed residents of the city in an open court at the
city centre where angry residents looted the city’s offices before the
arrival ICU forces.
Sheik Hussein Gagale who was commanding the forces that took control of
the city today said that it is a happy event that they are with city’s
people who have been forced to endure humiliation and exploitation at the
hands of colonial forces. On the other hand he chided the youth of the
city saying “there are thousands of youth in front of me at this moment so
why have they stayed silent when women, children and the weak among you
have been humiliated by the enemy forces. I see that as a weakness of
[Islamic] faith in young people” said Sheik Hussein Gagale.
After the conclusion of the speeches by the ICU leaders, some residents
and leaders of ICU forces together toured the various districts of the
city chanting Allahu Akbar.
Eye witnesses confirmed to HOL that the ICU forces captured a man who was
using a cell phone and speaking Amharic language. Reports say that the man
had Ethiopian identification papers although he is an ethnic Somali. It is
not known where the ICU forces took him.
Although ICU forces control the city now, people are asking themselves how
long they will stay in the city since several times in past they withdrew
from the city days or even hours after they took control of the city.
The whereabouts of the regional Governor and mayor of the city of are not
yet known although some reports say that they have gone with Ethiopian
troops who have vacated their main base at Jante-Kundisho.
The city of Beledweyne has witnessed recently a series of assassination
whose purposes have not been clear. Residents in the city are anxious
about any changes that will come with the presence of ICU forces.
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