Hizbul Islam

Hizbul Islam
Flag of Hizbul Islam
Leaders	Omar Iman (7 February 7 – 26 May 2009) Hassan Dahir Aweys (26 May 2009 – 20 December 2010)
Dates of operation	January 2009–December 2010[1] September 2012–June 2014[2]
Headquarters	Kismayo (January 2009–October 2009) Afgooye (October 2009–December 2010)
Active regions	Southern and Central Somalia
Ideology	Islamism
Opponents	AMISOM Al-Shabaab
Preceded by Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia; Jabhatul Islamiya; Mu'askar Ras Kamboni; Muaskar Anole (Jan. 2009); Al-Shabaab (Sept. 2012) Succeeded by Al-Shabaab (Dec. 2010)

Hizbul Islam ("Islamic Party"), also known as Hizbul Islaami, Hisbi Islam, or Hezb-ul Islam, was a Somali Islamist group formed after four Islamist groups merged to oppose the new Transitional Federal Government administration of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed several weeks after end of the Ethiopian military occupation of Somalia.^[3][4]

The four groups were: Hassan Aweys' the ARS-A, Jabhatul Islamiya ("Islamic Front"), Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki's the Mu'askar Ras Kamboni (Ras Kamboni Brigade) and Muaskar Anole, the Marehan clan's Militia and Harti clan's militia.^[3] Hizbul Islam's principle objectives was the withdrawal of foreign troops and the imposition of Sharia in Somalia.^[5] The organization was badly weakened by fighting in Mogadishu in early 2009, when it had nearly toppled the government. By 2010 the group split between members who were actively fighting against or actively supporting Al-Shabaab.^[4] After much of the group had been merged into Al-Shabaab, Hassan Aweys announced Hizbul Islam's separation from them in 2012.^[6]