Al-Majallah report by ‘Umar al-Ansari

Mogadishu — The new phenomenon that has begun to impose itself on the Somali political scene is the Islamic courts. They have begun proving themselves, although they have been in existence for no more than three years. Shaykh Sharif Muhidin, president of the Somali shari’ah courts, has affirmed that the shari’ah courts are the only thing that can lead Somalia to safety, after all the agreements have failed. He noted that the shari’ah is the only thing on which the Somalis agree. Shaykh Muhidin added that what these courts have accomplished in such a short time shows that the Somali Muslim people have accepted them.

It is noteworthy that the Islamic courts, which began operating in Mogadishu, have gradually spread to many provinces, particularly in the center, the south, and the northeast. Some Muslim ulema have reservations regarding the shari’ah courts, because, they think, only a judge can apply the shari’ah. This is something that Somalia lacks by virtue of its circumstances. However, the Somalis object to this, insisting that these courts were established by people who can interpret the shar’iah. They also say that the people accept them. Had it not been for these courts, there would have been no stability and the gangs would have continued to carry out their criminal actions. The Somali reconciliation councils also have played a big role on the popular level. They continue to carry out different activity.

There are two reconciliation councils in Somalia. One of them is the Somali Reconciliation Council, which Somali academicians have established. Dr. Abdirahman Maalin, a Canadian citizen, is the chairman of this council. His deputy is Dr. Ali Shaykh Ahmed Abukar, a professor at the (former) King Sa’ud University in Saudi Arabia. The two men mobilized a number of Somali academicians, notables, and scholars. The council has achieved big successes on the popular level. It has so far persuaded many Somalis to abandon violence and tribal fanaticism. The council holds reconciliation meetings between conflicting parties. It has prevented war between two tribes after one of them kidnapped a child of the sultan of the other tribe. Council Chairman Dr. Abdirahman Maalin says that the council is undertaking its work gradually from the bottom upward. Dr. Maalin hopes that the council would achieve a comprehensive reconciliation among the various Somali tribes within a very short time.

The second group working for reconciliation is composed of notables and sultans. The Somali Reconciliation Council seeks the help of this group, which is controlled by lawyers from the Habr Gedir tribe, to which Aidid belongs. This group has also achieved big successes. It has initiated a reconciliation between the two main warlords, Ali Mahdi and Aidid. Its chairman Dr. Hasan Dambal has confirmed that the council has secured an agreement in principle from Ali Mahdi to accept the solution the Somali notables will work out.

However, Aidid still represents an obstacle to their efforts. Dr. Dambal confirms that if Aidid refuses to accept the council’s solution within the next three months, the council and the Habr Gedir tribe will abandon him. According to Dr. Dambal, Aidid is a general commanding a tribe and not an army. The tribe lends him support. If he rejects peace, the tribe will definitely abandon him.